YOUR LIFE A-Z: ZESTFUL

ZESTFUL

ZESTFUL means having a spirited love of life.  Isn’t it awesome that our advent list ends with this powerful word for this CHRISTMAS day? (If you are wondering how we went through 26 letters in 25 days, it is because Advent began on November 30, which made a perfect ending to this A-Z for the holiday.) Today, have a ZESTFUL day.  From the early morning hours of opening presents to the late Christmas dinners celebrate each other.  Be spirited about connecting with those around you and add ZEST to each encounter, making someone else’s Christmas experience brighter.  If you are alone today, this is your opportunity to practice ZESTFULNESS to others.  Get over yourself and get out.  Take water to the homeless or go to a movie and be ZESTFUL with gratitude that you can get out and enjoy your Christmas day.  If you are homebound then call someone and wish him/her a Merry Christmas.  Today is not a day to sit around and feel sorry for your situation.  Today is a day to bring ZEST and to be ZESTFUL.   Use today to make a positive difference in the life of each person you come in contact with.  Practice having a spirited love of life and let your ZESTFULNESS become contagious.  You do make a difference in the lives of all of those around you and you get to choose whether that difference is positive or negative.  Seems like practicing ZESTFUL interactions will make your Christmas day more meaningful.  So with that I wish you a ZESTFUL day of spirited living.  Merry Christmas.

YOUR LIFE A-Z:XMAS

CHI 

XMAS

Oh joy!  It is the controversial word XMAS.  Many of my readers have probably heard the ongoing debate about using  the word XMAS instead of the word Christmas.  Fundamentalists are adamant about not taking the word Christ out of Christmas and replacing it with a pagan X for XMAS.  Researching the history of the word XMAS was very educational.  Religious scholars have written the word XMAS for years.  X in the Greek language represents Chi. The word for Christ in Greek is Χριστος.  The symbol above with X and P has been used since Constantine’s time to represent Christianity. Early religious writers wrote in Greek and in Arabic.  The X in Christmas represents Christ just as much as spelling it out as Christ.  X was used for the word Christ long before it converted to the English word Christ.  Thus, in celebration of XMAS this year can we let our arguments go by the wayside and enjoy the last few days of this holiday season?  Enjoy the true spirit of connecting with each other that this time of year makes possible for us. Regardless of your faith tradition or decision not to choose a faith, XMAS gives us the opportunity to connect and reconnect with people we do not see on a regular basis.   XMAS is a time of celebration of each other.  Chi is the twenty-second letter of the Greek alphabet and Chi is also used as a Chinese word representing the life force that radiates throughout our body at all times.  Let XMAS radiate through you this year.

YOUR LIFE A-Z: CALL

24/7 CALL OUT TO THE UNIVERSE

CALL

CALL the Battle cry.  Make your voice known.  Speak into thin air that which you need.  CALL your name out and see how that sounds hearing you call to yourself by name.  There are times when you need to CALL your name in firmness just like a parent called your name when you were in danger.  “___________, Stop that.”  There are also times when you need to CALL your own name gently.  For instance,  “__________________, I hear you are upset right now.  Tell me what you are feeling.”  To speak aloud our own name or to speak aloud that which we need is one way of being proactive in being present in your life.  CALLING aloud your own name is a way of declaring that you exist and that you mean business.  CALL your own phone and leave yourself an encouraging message or a reminder as to what your current goal is.  It is also important to CALL for help.  When you are in an emergency situation, hopefully you don’t think twice about calling 911.  What makes you wait until your emotional pain is unbearable to call your therapist or a friend?  Part of this Twenty Minute Coach process is to recognize that it takes a village to live a happy productive life and that you don’t have to stay stuck in a vacuum.  CALL into existence what it is that you need. Use your voice to speak deliberately and with conviction that which you declare that you want now. CALL out!