Is it just me or does the holiday madness seem to start earlier and earlier each year?

It seems like once the trick or treating is over, the Christmas decorations are out. That gives us 2 full months to ponder who are we going to buy for, what are we going to buy, where and who will we spend our time with and oh, yeah—did I mention, what do I NEED
to buy. I have felt that over the past 10 years or so, the true meanings of the holidays are getting lost in busyness, obligation and shopping malls. I love to give and receive gifts, however, I like to do that on my terms, not from a place of what I think I should be doing. The holidays can be a harmonious time of year. When we tap into what is really important to us and create our plans from there—that is where the harmony comes from.

This month, my favorite holiday of the year occurs—Thanksgiving. It has all of the elements of a perfect holiday . Time to be with family and friends, a couple of extra days off during the week, a magnified feeling of gratitude and last, but not least, as my family calls it . . . the start of the eating season.

Many of you know that I am a total foodie, so I thought I would share a wonderful recipe that is great for the holidays and beyond.

I enjoy having a serving or two on a regular basis!

A Holiday Casserole

• 1/4 cup Awareness
• 1/4 cup Unconditional Love
• 1/4 cup Gratitude
• 1/4 cup Positive Attitude
• 1 full cup Patience
• 64 Tablespoons of Deep Breaths
• 1 very large pinch of Humor

In a mixing bowl, stir all ingredients together and bake at 300 degrees for one hour. Drizzle with crunchy bits of joy and serve to all for a happy family Holiday and beyond. . .
(a gift from my dear friend and colleague Karyyn Boese http://www.dreamliving.org/about)

If you are not sure where to find these ingredients, look in your heart and soul. . .

Awareness can be found each day when you make conscious choices of how you are going to create your day. Unconditional Love is found in the heart-this is where you set an intention to love people who may be the hardest to love. You know the ones who cut you off in traffic, a difficult relative, a rude cashier, or best yet, yourself. Gratitude shows up when you think of at least one thing you are thankful for each day. You’ll find a Positive Attitude next to the awareness-intend to be positive when facing something that may be challenging for you, like an office party, unexpected guests or putting together difficult toys for the kids. I know the recipe only calls for a cup of Patience, however, you may want to add more of this ingredient when with people who are not indulging in this recipe themselves and remember, they are doing the best that they can with what they have.
Deep Breaths and Humor are last, but not least—without these ingredients, the rest of the recipe seems bland. Remember to take a few minutes each day to stop and take a few breaths to catch up with yourself. You can do it in your car or your desk—this is the conscious kind of deep breathing. As for humor, you can find that at the movies, by watching your kids or a stand up comedian (sometimes that is the same thing). Try laughing at yourself instead of being hard on yourself, that is a real flavor enhancer.

Take time to consciously choose these ingredients to create the most delicious holiday season yet!