Category Archives: Nature

Embracing Joy: Ten Steps To Make The Most Of The Month Of December…

The end of the year is almost here, but before the clock strikes midnight and a new year begins, we still have 31 incredible days to enjoy this amazing gift called life that we have been blessed with. December, the culminating month of the year, arrives again this year with a special charm—a time when the air is filled with the scent of festivities, our minds with reflection, and our hearts with anticipation. As the year draws to a close, it brings a multitude of opportunities to embrace the joy, spread warmth, and prepare for a fresh new beginning. Here are 8 Steps we can take to make the most of this remarkable month:

1. Embrace Festivities: December marks the pinnacle of celebration and our spirit needs some good celbration, laughter and fun . Dive into the festivities, whether it’s lighting up the menorah for Hanukkah, decorating the Christmas tree, or preparing for Kwanzaa. Engage in the celebrations of your culture as you partake in the traditional rituals, and revel in the joy of just simply being together with those you love.

2. Reflect and Reconnect: Amidst the hustle and bustle, make sure that you carve out moments for introspection. Look on the inside of yourself by reflecting on the past months, acknowledge your achievements, and contemplating areas where you need to grow. Make time to reconnect with loved ones by taking the time for gatherings, the sharing of stories, and the opportunity to relive cherished memories. December offers a perfect backdrop to nourish our connections with those that we really care about.

3. Spread Kindness: The real essence of December lies in giving. Extend acts of kindness to those around you. Volunteer your time, donate to charities, or simply lend a helping hand to someone in need. A small gesture can create an immense impact and bring warmth to someone’s heart and blessings to all around.

4. Savor the Seasonal Delights: Indulge in the flavors and aromas unique to December. Treat yourself to hot cocoa by the fireplace, relish gingerbread cookies, or try the diverse array of traditional holiday dishes. Allow your senses to revel in the culinary delights this month brings. Actually take time to enjoy the tastes of the holiday season.

5. Set Intentions for the New Year: December serves as a bridge between the old and the new. Take this time to set intentions for the upcoming year. Outline your goals, aspirations, and resolutions. Visualize the path ahead and lay the groundwork for a promising start to the new chapter. I like to think of a word that will be my word for the new year. My new year word for 2023 was FAITH and my new year word for 2024 is INFLUENCE.

6. Appreciate Nature’s Beauty: Depending on your location, December either blankets the world in snow or paints it with blossoms. Embrace the beauty of nature—go for a winter walk, admire the twinkling lights, or take in the vibrant colors of blooming flowers in the Southern Hemisphere. Connect with the natural world around you. It really is the most wonderful time of the year!

7. Practice Gratitude: Cultivate a mindset of gratitude. Acknowledge the blessings, big or small, that have enriched your life throughout the year. Keep a gratitude journal, expressing thankfulness for moments, experiences, and the presence of those who’ve made a difference in your life. I like to write down at least three things that I am thankful for everyday.

8. Pay Attention To The Spiritual: Our lives are physical, mental and spiritual. Be sure to focus on and work on the spiritual part of your life by taking time to think about the greatest gift ever give and how that gift makes your life worth living.

9. Create Lasting Traditions: Establishing traditions adds depth and meaning to the holiday season. Whether it’s baking together with family, hosting a themed gathering, or watching classic movies, these rituals foster a sense of belonging and create timeless memories. We take and make time for what really matters to us.

10. Enjoy Yourself! As December unfolds its charm, make sure that you seize the opportunity to immerse yourself in its magic. Let it be a time of joy, reflection, and preparation for the exciting prospects ahead. Embrace the festive cheer, cherish your loved ones, and welcome the new year with open arms.

Soul Play!

I don’t have a soul, I am a soul! What an amazing truth to buy into and build our life upon. I think one of the reasons I often have such a hard time getting in touch and staying connected to my true self is because I way to frequently lose sight of the reality that I am a soul.

Soul is not something that I look for and find. Soul is something that I am. Soul is what I am, when I am the truest, most real version of the self that God created me to be.

I don’t have to look for soul, because soul will find me, because soul is who I really am. Soul actually chases after you and me, longing to be discovered and embraced.

This dance with the soul is much like a game of hide and seek. Our goal should be to do anything and everything we can to be found. To be found by our soul reconnects us with everything that really matters in life and eternity.

At the end of the day, soul wants to be with you as much as you want and need to be with soul, so why not just give in and let it be???

Outside Benefits!

Most mornings after my “walk and talk”, you can find me right here in this spot enjoying my morning beverage (Coffee, Tea or Breakfast Shake), soaking up nature and thinking about whatever things God has put on my mind.

Getting outside and beginning my day in nature with my Creator is one of the not so secret secrets to my life of blessing. It allows me to clear my mind, exercise my body and align my Spirit with the things that really matter.

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” -Romans 8:28

Here are a few benefits to getting outside…

1.) Outside Makes Life Better! Simply getting outside for 20 – 30 minutes make a tremendous difference in you physical, mental and spiritual life. Studies show that you don’t even have to do anything, but that just by getting outside, you experience life benefits.

2.) Soaking Up Some Sun Is Healing! The best source of vitamin D comes from the sun and as much as 40% of people today actually have a vitamin D deficiency. Soaking up a little of the sun will actually make you much healthier physically and mentally…

3.) It’s One Of The Best Remedies For Anxiety, Depression And Stress! Studies actually show that taking the time to casually walk outside in green and growing spaces lowers the stress hormone cortisol, which is in high levels leads to a plethora of health issues.

There are probably thousands of benefits that we can discover from being outside, but we want discover them in the house on the couch, so make and take some time today and everyday to get outside and enjoy your Creator’s Creation, which you are a vital part of…

Remember: Not everyone who wanders is lost!