The "Holy Daze"

Black Friday.

Cyber Monday.

Giving Tuesday.

“Black cyber giving” — it sounds incongruent with the intention of the season, doesn’t it?  The Holidays are now the “Holy Daze” and we are stunned by it’s overwhelming energy.

Let’s consider another way of celebrating this time of year, shall we?

There’s a mindlessness that we fall into when we’re surrounded by the “gotta get / gotta have” energy of door buster specials and “bogo” deals. Then hard on the heels of that comes the desperate sounding, guilt inducing pleas to please give more: of yourself, of your money to a myriad of causes, of your time to others’ expectations, and so on, and so on... 

This energy feels urgent, frenetic and grasping. It exacerbates the fearful thoughts of lack and less than. It also turns giving and receiving into a multi-faceted game of scorekeeping.

I invite You to shift gears. How about walking away from the game? — or at least playing it by your own rules:

Stop.

Breathe.

Breathe again.

Listen to Your Self.

Act on what you know is right for You.

Any “shoulds”, unreasonable expectations of yourself or from others, the need to “keep up with the Joneses” or feelings of dread are indications that you’re getting drawn back into the game.

Return to the meanings of the word gift: a thing given willingly to someone; a natural ability or talent.  There’s an ease to either option and no sense of obligation.

Consider simplicity: a timely gesture; an offering of some kind; an acknowledgment; an appreciation of someone; an unexpected kindness; the practice of gratitude.

Gratitude—Instead of the rushed thanks and accumulation of gear and stuff. It opens the heart, puts our own woes in perspective, and allows for healing on many, many levels.

What are you grateful for? It can be as simple as this very moment, the next breath, or as layered as you care to make it: partners, children, weathering a health crisis, new home, different work, etc. Once you get started, I sense you'll be surprised at just how easily you come up with examples, and how difficult it can be to limit them.

Allow it to become a ritual—however you choose to embody and honor it—and not just at this time of year.  Then the “Holy Daze” can truly become Holy Days.

Watch. Listen. Practice. SwaffWords© Video.