With the ending of the past year and the beginning of this new year, I find myself more than ever thinking
about family and love. Not always tied by blood but connected in love, that is family. To me, family is about unconditional love and acceptance. My family
is the group of people who want to share themselves with me and I with them. I do believe that ultimately we are all family, connected by our souls, energy,
spirits, or however you choose to say it. My beautiful sister-friend Kathryn sums it up this way, "You are
family because I love you most in the world." Be thankful for the love that you share every day with the people you enjoy spending time with, however you define family.
One of life's great truths is that people don't generally look back on their lives and think, I wish I had worked
harder, or cleaned more or spent more time at the gym. They often think of the lost connections, the time
they didn't spend being in the present, enjoying each and every moment. They will think of the time they
wasted on petty or unimportant things. The things they didn't buy that seemed special to them. Another
one of life's great truths is there is truly nothing we can give that is more valuable than the gift of our time.
Spending time with those who love us unconditionally ~ talking, laughing, sharing memories, creating new ones ~ that's the good stuff. Time is valuable yet costs us nothing.
This new year...don't just give a gift for the sake of doing it. Give an experience
or an activity. Or give a gift that inspires or delights. Give a gift that keeps on giving. Give a book and ask that it be passed forward when the book has been read.
Give the gift of fun ~ a game for the wii, the makings for a homemade pizza (crust, sauce, cheese & toppings, it's really that easy & especially fun when you cook
with someone), or a gift certificate for a special day out to shop with someone you love.
Give the gift of wellness ~ a new pair of walking
shoes with a fun new water bottle and a book of coupons for walking dates.
Give the gift of warmth ~ what better than a gift certificate for a heated stone massage.
Give the gift of laughter ~ pick up a funny movie that you think everyone might enjoy and wrap it up with an invitation to watch it together.
Give the gift of compassion ~ have every member of your family go through their clothing and find items to donate to those in need. Deliver them to a homeless shelter or a family who can use them.
Give the gift of sharing ~ whatever gifts you decide to give this year, give a little of yourself. Be creative. Be silly. Be serious. Be zany. Be yourself.
A very special thank you this month to Diane Fisher, licensed massage therapist, educator and
consultant in Delaware, Ohio, for her contribution to our January Monthly Mantra article. You can visit her site at
