Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Survive the holidays with civility



We absolutely love this smart, witty, and helpful Guide to Civility from syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Times columnist David Brooks.

The best part? You can download it and use it as a placemat during one of the most politically and emotionally-charged events of the season: the Thanksgiving dining table. (Or any dining table filled with a variety of loved ones gathered for the holidays.)

Check out their advice for handling dicey topics ranging from politics, the economy, and more - all the while preserving a sense of family love.

It reminds us of what we're thankful for - reminders to practice civility and kindness each and every day! 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Monday, November 25, 2013

Be a light!

The holidays are here! Family, fellowship, food…and stress. Possibly a lot of it. Maybe even a little sadness, panic, or anxiety thrown into the mix.

It’s no secret that holidays are hard for a lot of people for a variety of reasons. And even people who adore holidays may find themselves succumbing to the ambient chaos of the season, when everything seems a little faster, busier, louder…and just more. More of everything.

Why not go a little easy on ourselves — and others? Why not shine a little light for the world around us?


We suggest making an effort to illuminate the holidays with simple acts of kindness. We can cover a lot of ground here, but in today’s post, we’ll focus on something super simple yet often difficult: arriving on time.

It’s easy to feel scattered if one has a calendar filled with abundant holiday parties and plays, school and work functions, and at least one big family dinner. Arriving on time makes a world of difference, not only to your hosts, colleagues, friends, and family, but also to yourself.

Imagine allowing enough time for getting lost or bad traffic without worrying about being late. Imagine arriving at your destination feeling calm and collected, not flustered and hectic. Imagine not climbing over a sea of knees in an already-seated auditorium…joining dinner party conversation without any residual jitters…taking a breath to relax and enjoy yourself without rushing around.

Being on time might take practice for some of us—but what better time to start now? You may have to force yourself to leave at a time that feels unnaturally early until you have figured it out, but go ahead and do it…keeping appointments on a calendar you actually check helps, too.

Until next time…shine bright!