YOUR LIFE A-Z: KWANZAA

The Holiday Season Continues.  Joyous KWANZAA

KWANZAA

JOYOUS KWANZAA IS THE PROPER GREETING FOR TODAY.  YES, KWANZAA IS A FAIRLY NEW HOLIDAY MAKING ITS WAY INTO THE MAINSTREAM OF THE HOLIDAY SEASON, BEGINNING DECEMBER 26 AND ENDING ON NEW YEAR’S DAY.  IT ORIGINATED IN 1966 BY DR. MAULANA KARENGA TO CELEBRATE THE AFRICAN FAMILY, COMMUNITY, AND CULTURE.  THE WORD KWANZAA MEANS, “FIRST FRUITS” IN SWAHILI.  SWAHILI IS THE WIDEST SPOKEN AFRICAN LANGUAGE AND RECOGNIZED THROUGH ALL OF AFRICAN DIASPORA.  KWANZAA CELEBRATES THE SEVEN PRINCIPLES OVER ITS SEVEN DAYS.  THOSE PRINCIPLES ARE: UNITY, SELF-DETERMINATION, COLLECTIVE WORK AND RESPONSIBILITY, COOPERATIVE ECONOMICS, PURPOSE, CREATIVITY, AND FAITH.  THE KINARA, WHICH IS A SEVEN CANDLE CANDLESTICK, REPRESENTS EACH ONE OF THE SEVEN PRINCIPLES.  THE BLACK CANDLE IS LIT FIRST REPRESENTING UNITY AND THE OTHER SIX PRINCIPLES BALANCE THE HEART OF THIS HOLIDAY OF SOLIDARITY AND COMMUNITY.  KWANZAA WAS BORN DURING THE HEAT OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT AS A WAY OF OFFERING A STABILIZED IDENTITY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ANGER AND HATE OF RACISM.  HERE WE ARE FORTY -EIGHT YEARS LATER AND OUR NEWSCAST ARE FULL OF VIOLENCE AGAINST BLACK PEOPLE. LET’S PULL TOGETHER THIS KWANZAA TO STAND TOGETHER WITH OUR AFRICAN BROTHERS AND SISTERS AS THE STRIVE TO FIND FAITH AND HOPE IN A COUNTRY THAT IS OFTEN HOSTILE AND HATE FILLED TOWARD THEM.  WE ARE IN DEEP NEED OF PEACE WITHIN OUR OWN COUNTRY THIS YEAR AND I FEEL IT IS FOOLISH TO FOCUS OUTSIDE OF OUR OWN BORDERS UNTIL WE HAVE PEACE WITHIN.  WATCH THIS THREE-MINUTE VIDEO AS AN ACT OF SOLIDARITY TODAY: HTTP://WWW.HISTORY.COM/TOPICS/HOLIDAYS/KWANZAA-HISTORY

YOUR LIFE A-Z:WREATH

This Circle of Life Brings You Holiday Blessings

WREATH
The history of the WREATH pre-dates Christianity by at least 1,000 years.  It originated with the Romans and was worn as head- dress and placed on doors as a sign of victory.  It meandered into Europe as part of the pagan celebrations of life during the cold and dark winter season. The WREATH was made of evergreen or holly representing the circle of life’s seasons and sturdiness of life. The WREATH was adorned with four candles representing the four elements, earth, wind, fire, and water.  The WREATH served as a practicality giving light to the dark corners of the home as well as a symbolically reminding people that light would return and they were sturdy enough to endure.  It was only after Christian’s co-opted the pagan rituals that the advent WREATH came into being.   Also in Europe, WREATHS were used as a way of identifying one’s personal residence, similar to our street numbering system today.  A European would say, “I am the house with the such and such WREATH on the door.”  Thus this circle of unending life found its way into the everyday life of the people.  Do you have a WREATH on your door this holiday season?  If so, how did you choose the one you have or did you make it?  Think about the symbols you would like to have your WREATH represent.  If you were to add one decorative item that represented something special to you this holiday, what would it be?  Enjoy making your WREATH a bit more personal.

YOUR LIFE A-Z:GENEROUSITY

PRACTICE GENEROSITY

GENEROSITY

The holiday season can if we are open to sharing, open our hearts to GENEROSITY.  It is a time when food banks, angel trees, and charities are appealing to you to open your wallets in the spirit of the holiday.  This year allow yourself to be a little more GENEROUS than in years past.  Allow your heart to filled with GENEROSITY and open your wallet to gift to those less fortunate than you.  You never know when it might be you whose life takes a downward turn and find yourself in need.  However, don’t be GENEROUS out of fear, be GENEROUS out of a heart of gratitude.  There is always more than enough and plenty to go around.  Ever notice that the stingier you are the more restrictive your life becomes?  On the other hand, the more you give the more that is available in abundance to give.  GENEROSITY is shared out of freedom. Scrooge exists out of fear and bitterness.  If you are afraid to let go of your purse strings then this is a perfect time to test the paradox of GENEROSITY.   Set aside a percentage of your holiday budget (you do have one don’t you?) and give that percentage to those in need during this holiday season.  You may discover that by the beginning of the New Year you feel more wealthy and enriched than you have noticed in years before.  GENEROSITY it magical in that it gives back by elevating your mood, makes you feel happy and productive.  Practice GENEROSITY this holiday and watch it multiply.

YOUR LIFE A-Z:ELVES

Employ and Delicate some Help This Holiday Season

ELVES

There are several lessons that we can learn from Santa’s ELVES. They do not wait until the last minute to prepare for the holiday season; they work hard all year long making toys that Santa will deliver across the world on Christmas Eve.  The ELVES make an abundance of toys, so as the children’s Christmas list come in, the ELVES can quickly fill children’s orders and wrap them so that Santa’s sleigh is full on Christmas Eve. By Christmas Eve everything is complete and only the fun and delight of delivery waits. How many ELVES do you have helping you this year with the holiday?  It is more fun to decorate, bake, cook, shop and wrap if you have some ELVES to help you along the way.  It is also less stressful if you plan all year long what Christmas gifts you are going to purchase. You can even wrap them as they are purchased.  Santa can’t do it all by himself and you should not have to either.  ELVES flourish in a community rather than staying isolated and task orientated.  They have fun while they work so hard.  They feel a sense of importance and valuable to Santa.  Make your ELVES feel this way too.  Then of course, since 2005, we have become familiar with the ELF on the Shelf.  This ELF is so very important because he goes back to the North Pole every night to report to Santa as whether you have been naughty or nice.  Use this ELF to build personal responsibility in your homes, helping all family members get into to positive energy of the holiday season.

YOUR LIFE A-Z:BOW

PUT A BOW ON IT

BOW

Sticking with the theme of the holiday season, a little reflection on the word BOW.  In our English language this word has a duplicitous meaning.  First let’s explore how adding a BOW to a package spruces up the package.  Imagine a package that is wrapped in bright red Christmas paper and then imagine adding a white BOW to it.  The BOW brightens the package adding a little flair.  Next imagine adding a green, gold, silver, or multi-colored BOW. Each BOW changes the visual image of the package, each eliciting a different visual appeal.  What could use an addition of a BOW in your daily life?  What has become boring or mundane, but still necessary?  Add a BOW to it.  Change  your tooth- brush by choosing a bright and colorful one.  Buy yourself a new journal to start off the new –year.  BOWS are a pleasant addition to what already exist.  BOWS take little effort, but compliment the package with that extra touch of tender loving care.  Treat yourself to a manicure or pedicure.  BOWS bring a smile to your face and raise your level of anticipation.  Do you need a new plate to enjoy your same old breakfast?  Do you need to add color to a room that drags you down?  You are beginning to get the idea, so now allow yourself to be creative with the idea of decorating your daily life with the multi-faceted BOW.  BOWS are used in archery and help the velocity of the arrow.  Then there is the word BOW.   BOW your head in gratitude and be thankful for the BOWS in your life.

YOUR LIFE A-Z:HOLIDAY

REJOICE AND CELEBRATE EVERY HOLIDAY

HOLIDAY

The HOLIDAY season comes at the best time of the year, starting in fall and finishing in the heart of winter.  From Halloween until Valentine’s Day there is a HOLIDAY to look forward to with opportunity for plenty of hallmark moments.  However, the HOLIDAY season can be marred with ghosts from times past that you need to clear out in order to celebrate and take every opportunity to be fully alive in the HOLIDAY season.  Hallmark and commercialism have over-burdened and over stimulated many of us with all of the glitz that HOLIDAY’S are becoming burdensome surrounded by clouds of should and have-to.  Do not allow commercialism to ruin the enjoyment and zest that can be yours during this magical time of the year.  Choose the HOLIDAY you enjoy the most and celebrate it fully the way you that brings you the most enjoyment.  Then for the rest of the HOLIDAYS choose one part of the HOLIDAY to truly participate in.  For instance if you live near family and have to do HOLIDAY meals on Christmas morning, afternoon, and evening as well as a big celebration on Christmas eve, you know that already.  So rather than resist it pre-plan and prepare what you are going to take, organize it and have it off of your to do list. As a result of these obligations, trim down on other HOLIDAY have-to obligations and learn to say no to the cookie exchange and last minute wrapping and gift buying.  Pre-plan the obligations and enjoy the HOLIDAY that you love the most.