What if your presence is the greatest gift of all?
Most people would roll their eyes and shrug it off. But stop a moment to really think about it… What does it mean to be present? Could there ever really be a better gift you could gift to yourself and your loved ones?
What if we move through this week fully awake to the sights, sounds and celebrations of the season?
What if we take the time to listen, to observe the people around us, and to notice their beauty and uniqueness?
What if this holiday season, you allow yourself to be in the moment and savor every second of the shortest days of the year?
“The most precious gift we can offer others is our presence. When mindfulness embraces those we love, they will bloom like flowers.” – Thich Nhat Hahn
By the way, I celebrated my 41st birthday last week. My daughter loaned me her princess wand for the day, and along with it, she generously bestowed upon me five wishes. As I contemplated my wishes, I was overcome with joy and gratitude for the privilege of leading this work and mingling with more and more extraordinary people like you. Your presence is a gift to me. For real.
In the dark nights of winter, may you find a light to guide you, and a warm place to birth new hope for everlasting peace and joy. Wishing you a sacred time of celebration this week. Merry Christmas!
3 Comments for this entry
Deanna Chesnut
You assume that everyone has family…many do not. Or what there is could be less grateful for other family members. My Presence would not be missed by any beings but 3 cats despite my concerted efforts for years to be thoughtful, to do good deeds, to volunteer, to take care of other family members. I’m sure there are many like me. You write from a rosy place, not from most people’s reality
Mindy Audlin
Dear Deanna – I think many of us mistake “presence” to mean “attendance.” I’m sure there are many people who will spend the holidays surrounded by people, family and friends, and never really be “present” to the spirit of the holidays.
On the other hand, there are people who will spend Christmas alone this year. I’ve been there myself, celebrating the holidays far from family and friends, working to make ends meet, and toasting the new year with my faithful spaniel to keep me company.
“Presence” is not about who you are with. It’s about who you are. And who you are is a gift to the world. You are clearly a gift to your 3 cats, and thanks to your post, you are a gift to everyone in this community who may be heading into the holidays thinking their thoughtful acts of kindness throughout the year are lost in oblivion.
I do write from a rosy place, indeed. My holiday wish for everyone here is to at least consider the possibility that you could step into a brighter perspective regarding your current reality. Because when we do, our experience of that reality changes. It can happen in an instant.
I warned you that you might want to shrug this one off. But look deeper. Whatever your faith may be, the celebration of Christmas demonstrates that miracles often happen after a long hard journey, without the warm reception of the masses. Yet it is in this darkness and quiet that new hope is born.
What if??
Thanks for taking the time to write…
Mary
LOVE THIS!! Thank you for ALWAYS reminding us of theTRUTH!
And I wish for you.. that each and every day may you carry the princess wand and live as the princess you truly are!