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Join the Celebration
Since the dawn of civilization December has been a month of celebration, for midway through the month the days stop becoming
shorter as light once again returns to the world. Just after the Solstice, the longest, darkest of these nights, we celebrate
Christmas, a midwinter festival, or modern feast day, where families gather to give gifts to each other and indulge in good food
and merriment. It is important to honor the celebration, to gather with friends and feast. It is at this time that relationships are
renewed, the bonds of friendship and family ties strengthened. Joining the celebration holds a magic for us all. By recognizing and
celebrating holidays and interacting with family, friends and community we acknowledge the seasonal change, attune with the
natural tides and acknowledge the rhythms of life, death and rebirth as we recognize that we are a part of it. Participating in
holiday celebrations helps us feel connected to our place in society. Through ritual we connect to generations, past and future. Carl
Jung wrote, "Without meaningful ritual, people suffer. Ritual and ceremony can bridge our past and our present elegantly, making it
possible for folks like you and me to travel through life, honoring the good and bad times we've been through. They can help us
become human “well-beings,” ready to take on more life and liberty and ready to pursue our happiness.”
Joining in the celebration contributes to how we see each other and ourselves. A major portion of childhood memories are based
around our individual holiday experiences. Barbara Fiese writes in the Journal of Family that families that celebrate holidays are
more likely to raise kids who have a strong sense of identity, are healthy, have close ties to family members and succeed in
school. Dr. Steven J. Wolin, a clinical professor of psychiatry at George Washington University Medical School, cites that the power
of ritual comes from heritage, tradition and most of all something being emblazoned in your brain over time. And that family rituals
protect the individual against a sense of loneliness and uncertainty in daily living as it transmits shared beliefs of the family group
across generations. Dr. William Dorherty, director of the marriage and family therapy program at the University of Minnesota, has
identified two kinds of rituals in our society. The first is the traditional secular and religious rituals surrounding holidays, weddings
or funerals; the second involve ritual a family or individual has created to celebrate their life.
As children our lives were sprinkled with these small, magical rituals from nightly prayers to singing skipping songs, blowing
dandelions to blowing out birthday candles. As adults practicing daily ritual allows us to experience a more magical life. Through
ritual we can reprogram the unconscious mind so we have a different set of expectations about how the world will respond to us.
Through ritual we can find our way to the places in our lives that exist in between the tick-tock of everyday living and the luscious
places of dreaming, the magical places that connect us to the Divine.
So this Yule spend some quality time with friends and family. Participate in the celebration and make some new memories. Only
you can make your life richer and fill it with meaning. It's the little things that add to your life. Renew your connection to your
tribe. Gather with friends and let your heart swell with joy. Celebration is part of the human experience. Acknowledging the
seasons is a simple way to harmonize with the world and to recognize that we are a part of it.
Since the dawn of civilization December has been a month of celebration, for midway through the month the days stop becoming
shorter as light once again returns to the world. Just after the Solstice, the longest, darkest of these nights, we celebrate
Christmas, a midwinter festival, or modern feast day, where families gather to give gifts to each other and indulge in good food
and merriment. It is important to honor the celebration, to gather with friends and feast. It is at this time that relationships are
renewed, the bonds of friendship and family ties strengthened. Joining the celebration holds a magic for us all. By recognizing and
celebrating holidays and interacting with family, friends and community we acknowledge the seasonal change, attune with the
natural tides and acknowledge the rhythms of life, death and rebirth as we recognize that we are a part of it. Participating in
holiday celebrations helps us feel connected to our place in society. Through ritual we connect to generations, past and future. Carl
Jung wrote, "Without meaningful ritual, people suffer. Ritual and ceremony can bridge our past and our present elegantly, making it
possible for folks like you and me to travel through life, honoring the good and bad times we've been through. They can help us
become human “well-beings,” ready to take on more life and liberty and ready to pursue our happiness.”
Joining in the celebration contributes to how we see each other and ourselves. A major portion of childhood memories are based
around our individual holiday experiences. Barbara Fiese writes in the Journal of Family that families that celebrate holidays are
more likely to raise kids who have a strong sense of identity, are healthy, have close ties to family members and succeed in
school. Dr. Steven J. Wolin, a clinical professor of psychiatry at George Washington University Medical School, cites that the power
of ritual comes from heritage, tradition and most of all something being emblazoned in your brain over time. And that family rituals
protect the individual against a sense of loneliness and uncertainty in daily living as it transmits shared beliefs of the family group
across generations. Dr. William Dorherty, director of the marriage and family therapy program at the University of Minnesota, has
identified two kinds of rituals in our society. The first is the traditional secular and religious rituals surrounding holidays, weddings
or funerals; the second involve ritual a family or individual has created to celebrate their life.
As children our lives were sprinkled with these small, magical rituals from nightly prayers to singing skipping songs, blowing
dandelions to blowing out birthday candles. As adults practicing daily ritual allows us to experience a more magical life. Through
ritual we can reprogram the unconscious mind so we have a different set of expectations about how the world will respond to us.
Through ritual we can find our way to the places in our lives that exist in between the tick-tock of everyday living and the luscious
places of dreaming, the magical places that connect us to the Divine.
So this Yule spend some quality time with friends and family. Participate in the celebration and make some new memories. Only
you can make your life richer and fill it with meaning. It's the little things that add to your life. Renew your connection to your
tribe. Gather with friends and let your heart swell with joy. Celebration is part of the human experience. Acknowledging the
seasons is a simple way to harmonize with the world and to recognize that we are a part of it.
and furious world of penciled in schedules, the lists of errands to run, the appointments to catch, each of us locked in routines that keep
us from fostering a fulfilling existence. So stop. Don't allow life to rule you, instead shake off your blasé attitude and reclaim your life.
The night before, we were so hopeful as we call out, "This year I will lose ten pounds!" or "I resolve to start an exercise program!" Why
then do our pledges look so daunting in the cold morning light? Often it's because we strive for things that are too extreme. So make it
simple.
Let's begin with diet. Now when I say the word diet, I don't mean counting calories. The diet I am referring to is the act of looking at
what you eat and substituting good choices for the not-so-good ones. So next time you are thinking about a breakfast of French toast
dripping with butter and syrup, rethink your choice and substitute it with a hot bowl of oats topped with fresh fruit and low fat milk.
Instead of fast food for lunch, have a salad. The small changes you make in your food intake will not only improve your nourishment, it
will improve your mood and make you feel much better.
Oh, And when you are reaching for those fresh fruits and veggies, why not go one step further and pay a little more for the organic
choices? A study published by Pesticide Action Network Asia and the Pacific, Nov 2009 states that Roundup, or Glyphosate-based
herbicides, deplete Serotonin and Dopamine levels. Let's face it we are all slaves to our internal workings. Our feelings, emotions, the
ability to focus, even our compulsive thought processes and behaviors are all products of our brain chemistry. When certain chemicals in
the brain become unbalanced, it can cause a variety of negative conditions and two of these culprits are serotonin and dopamine.
Dopamine is the neurotransmitter involved in the brain's regulation of emotion and movement. In the April 2007 American Journal of
Psychiatry article, Can’t Get Enough of That Dopamine, Bruce Cohen MD, PhD and William Carlezon PhD state, "through their many
connections, dopamine neurons participate in the modulation of expectation, reward, memory, activity, attention, drives, and mood - the
very substrates of psychiatric illness." So what does it mean when our dopamine levels are depleted? Low levels of dopamine cause us to
face life with indifference and life becomes flat and boring. A diet that includes almonds, avocados, bananas, dairy products, lima beans,
pumpkin seeds, and sesame seeds is a natural way to boost dopamine levels. Eating fruits and vegetables and other foods that are rich
in antioxidants, also protect dopamine-using neurons from free radical damage. So change your diet and make the organic choice!
Serotonin is the neurotransmitter that affects sleep cycles, moods and memory. Low levels of serotonin are linked to aggression, anxiety
and depression. A study in the Neuroscience Journal from 2007 found that exposure to the bacteria found in dirt boosts Serotonin levels in
the brain. Many gardeners already know that running their naked finger through the soil not only makes their spirits soar but grounds
them in the shifting of the seasons. So get outside, plant a garden. Take walk through the park. Yes, even the simple act of walking can
cheer you up. Dr. Michael C. Miller, member of the Department of Psychiatry at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center says, "a modest
exercise program - even just taking regular walks - can improve your mood significantly." And it doesn't take much. A study published in
the December 2005 issue of Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise reported that people with major depressive disorders who walked
on a treadmill for 30 minutes experienced positive feelings of well-being and vigor.
It really is simple. Eat better and get some exercise. Both will improve your mood and your health and make your New Year's resolutions
easier to keep. Oh, and while you're at it, why not spend some time doing something that makes you happy? Watch the child stomping
through the puddles. Face lit with wonder as laughter accompanies each squish of her boots. What makes you happy and why aren't you
doing it? Are you a writer, a gardener, a quilter or a cook? Embrace your passion and allow the act of creation to transform your life from
dull to inspired. Today, steal some time for yourself and do what you love! Not only is it good for your mood it is also good for your
health.
Can't remember what it is that you like to do? Then try something new. Do that thing you've always dreamed of doing. Dr. Gene D. Cohen
M.D., Ph.D. co-founded the Creativity Discovery Corps, states that, "as the brain masters new, mentally challenging skills, it actually
boosts the immune system by spurring the production of T-cells, which ward off bacterial infections, as well as NK (or “natural killer”)
cells, which attack cancer cells.” Delving into an artistic endeavor not only benefits your health and mood, it is also a salve for your spirit.
The act of creation connects us to our Divine spark, the god within us, the inner voice that is our direct link to the vast well that is:
knowledge, wisdom, love and inner peace. By engaging in the creative process, we shift from a passive existence to an active one
providing a true experience that allows satisfaction at the completion of something created, something formed, a goal attained. It is in
this completion we find fulfillment. So take control of your day. Next time you have a free hour, instead collapsing before a glowing
screen, seize the time to have some fun. Love yourself and your life. Make the most of your time here. No one can do it for you. Only you
can choose to live.
us from fostering a fulfilling existence. So stop. Don't allow life to rule you, instead shake off your blasé attitude and reclaim your life.
The night before, we were so hopeful as we call out, "This year I will lose ten pounds!" or "I resolve to start an exercise program!" Why
then do our pledges look so daunting in the cold morning light? Often it's because we strive for things that are too extreme. So make it
simple.
Let's begin with diet. Now when I say the word diet, I don't mean counting calories. The diet I am referring to is the act of looking at
what you eat and substituting good choices for the not-so-good ones. So next time you are thinking about a breakfast of French toast
dripping with butter and syrup, rethink your choice and substitute it with a hot bowl of oats topped with fresh fruit and low fat milk.
Instead of fast food for lunch, have a salad. The small changes you make in your food intake will not only improve your nourishment, it
will improve your mood and make you feel much better.
Oh, And when you are reaching for those fresh fruits and veggies, why not go one step further and pay a little more for the organic
choices? A study published by Pesticide Action Network Asia and the Pacific, Nov 2009 states that Roundup, or Glyphosate-based
herbicides, deplete Serotonin and Dopamine levels. Let's face it we are all slaves to our internal workings. Our feelings, emotions, the
ability to focus, even our compulsive thought processes and behaviors are all products of our brain chemistry. When certain chemicals in
the brain become unbalanced, it can cause a variety of negative conditions and two of these culprits are serotonin and dopamine.
Dopamine is the neurotransmitter involved in the brain's regulation of emotion and movement. In the April 2007 American Journal of
Psychiatry article, Can’t Get Enough of That Dopamine, Bruce Cohen MD, PhD and William Carlezon PhD state, "through their many
connections, dopamine neurons participate in the modulation of expectation, reward, memory, activity, attention, drives, and mood - the
very substrates of psychiatric illness." So what does it mean when our dopamine levels are depleted? Low levels of dopamine cause us to
face life with indifference and life becomes flat and boring. A diet that includes almonds, avocados, bananas, dairy products, lima beans,
pumpkin seeds, and sesame seeds is a natural way to boost dopamine levels. Eating fruits and vegetables and other foods that are rich
in antioxidants, also protect dopamine-using neurons from free radical damage. So change your diet and make the organic choice!
Serotonin is the neurotransmitter that affects sleep cycles, moods and memory. Low levels of serotonin are linked to aggression, anxiety
and depression. A study in the Neuroscience Journal from 2007 found that exposure to the bacteria found in dirt boosts Serotonin levels in
the brain. Many gardeners already know that running their naked finger through the soil not only makes their spirits soar but grounds
them in the shifting of the seasons. So get outside, plant a garden. Take walk through the park. Yes, even the simple act of walking can
cheer you up. Dr. Michael C. Miller, member of the Department of Psychiatry at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center says, "a modest
exercise program - even just taking regular walks - can improve your mood significantly." And it doesn't take much. A study published in
the December 2005 issue of Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise reported that people with major depressive disorders who walked
on a treadmill for 30 minutes experienced positive feelings of well-being and vigor.
It really is simple. Eat better and get some exercise. Both will improve your mood and your health and make your New Year's resolutions
easier to keep. Oh, and while you're at it, why not spend some time doing something that makes you happy? Watch the child stomping
through the puddles. Face lit with wonder as laughter accompanies each squish of her boots. What makes you happy and why aren't you
doing it? Are you a writer, a gardener, a quilter or a cook? Embrace your passion and allow the act of creation to transform your life from
dull to inspired. Today, steal some time for yourself and do what you love! Not only is it good for your mood it is also good for your
health.
Can't remember what it is that you like to do? Then try something new. Do that thing you've always dreamed of doing. Dr. Gene D. Cohen
M.D., Ph.D. co-founded the Creativity Discovery Corps, states that, "as the brain masters new, mentally challenging skills, it actually
boosts the immune system by spurring the production of T-cells, which ward off bacterial infections, as well as NK (or “natural killer”)
cells, which attack cancer cells.” Delving into an artistic endeavor not only benefits your health and mood, it is also a salve for your spirit.
The act of creation connects us to our Divine spark, the god within us, the inner voice that is our direct link to the vast well that is:
knowledge, wisdom, love and inner peace. By engaging in the creative process, we shift from a passive existence to an active one
providing a true experience that allows satisfaction at the completion of something created, something formed, a goal attained. It is in
this completion we find fulfillment. So take control of your day. Next time you have a free hour, instead collapsing before a glowing
screen, seize the time to have some fun. Love yourself and your life. Make the most of your time here. No one can do it for you. Only you
can choose to live.
with raised glasses and hearts filled with hope for a better year, a
better life, a better us. We laugh as confetti floats down in a glittered
better life, a better us. We laugh as confetti floats down in a glittered