It is the week before Christmas, and I have been spending a lot of time in a room that doesn’t typically see that much of me.  Which room?  The kitchen.  Oh sure, I make coffee in the morning, and put together whatever meals come to mind.  But I’m not really “into” cooking, so the kitchen is a space that gets only quick visits.  But, like I said, it is the week before Christmas, and for me, that means fudge making and jam-cake baking.

A holiday tradition of my own creation is baking ‘Blackberry Jam Cake’ and making chocolate and peanut-butter fudge, often while Christmas Carols play in the background.  I put together “goodie bags” for several of our friends, and usually have plenty left over for me and Wolfgang, and anyone who might stop by to visit.

Holiday traditions are interesting things.  Would it feel like Christmas if I didn’t do this?  I don’t know.  I’ve been doing some version of “goodie bags” since I was in my 20’s, and I can’t imagine stopping anytime soon.  Still, if I didn’t enjoy doing any of this, I wouldn’t do it.  I’ve never been much for doing things simply for the sake of tradition.

Since no one enjoys hanging out with “Stressed Out Susie”, it’s probably best that I stick with things that I enjoy.  Even then, I go through my moments of stress – only to remember that Christmas comes whether I do all of the “stuff” or not.  I believe it was the Grinch who said; “It came without packages, buttons, or bows!”

So, this holiday season, do what brings joy – to you, to your family, and to your friends.  As I write this, I think it could be a New Year’s Resolution – to do what brings joy – or perhaps it would be better phrased as “to find joy in all that you do”.  Yeah, that’s the ticket!

So, Merry Christmas!  May you find joy in all that you do, all that you see, and all that you experience.

Namaste!
Susan 

"Relationships"

Relationships are such an important part of our daily lives.  As life goes on, we sometimes fall into patterns with our loved ones.  Over the years these, patterns can become ruts. 

To prevent our relationships from getting into a rut is simple, yet not necessarily easy.  Communication is my answer.  Susan and I sit down and talk about what works in our relationship and, if we find ourselves emotionally “shutting down”, we talk about what happened that triggered the ‘shut down’. 

We have practiced communicating for a while and it still brings up emotions; but it is what we do to clear up old patterns in our energy matrix.  Once we identify what works in our relationship and what doesn’t; then we release our energy on what doesn’t work. 

It would be nice if we only had to do this once and then live happily ever after, but it doesn’t work like that for us yet.  It does get easier with practice and it keeps our relationship fun and exciting.  Fun and exciting was how our relationship started and we like to keep it that way.

Life is good.

Lots of love,
Wolfgang