Favorites from Holidays Past

Christmas is a time of memories and a lot of inspiration for blog topics!  This week we decided to share some of our most popular blog posts from holidays past. It was fun for us to compile the list and reflect on the state of our lives at the time these articles were written.

For some we were inspired, and for others we were feeling overwhelmed; yet the exercise of writing pulled us from our current state of mind into a place of authenticity and peace.

We hope you enjoy reading this collection as much as we enjoyed writing each entry.

Love and hugs,

The Soul Sisters

Miracle of the Heart
The holidays is a time of open hearts. Could that be the start of a Christmas miracle?

The Gift of Memories
The best part of the season doesn't come gift wrapped. The memories can last a lifetime.

Christmas Compromise
Celebrating the holidays means something different to everyone and sometimes that requires compromise.

Message From My Christmas Angel
There are Christmas angels all around us. What messages are they giving you?

Are You Ready for Christmas?
This is the question that can throw you into a panic...unless you rethink what it means to be ready.

Is there a Santa Claus?

I don’t remember specifically when I realized that there was no real guy, dressed in red, assisted by elves, who rode around the world in a sleigh powered by flying reindeer? If I had to guess, I would say I was around 10 years old. I have 3 younger siblings who believed and carried the idea of the real physical Santa on for several years after me. I guess pretending with them, and for them, kept the idea alive for me somewhat.

Now fast forward a number of years. I am now a mom; my son and daughter are at the pivotal ages of “believing” and “kinda sorta believing, but beginning to question”; ages 9 & 12, respectfully. I can’t say that they haven’t inquired about the idea of a Santa who receives their letters every year. In fact, my son asked me a couple weeks ago, “Mom, do you believe in Santa?” I answered him truthfully, “I believe in the magic of Christmas. This is the time of year when Christmas angels make miracles happen. Whatever you believe in your heart is the true spirit of the Season.” He must have been satisfied with that answer because he does still 100% believes in Santa. And, I thank God that he didn’t ask me, “Mom, is there really a Santa?” instead. I don’t know how I would’ve answered that question. Talk about your Christmas miracles.

It won’t be long before these two give into the peer pressures of their friends and this one Christmas secret will soon be a memory. Yes, this might just be the last year of tip-toeing their presents under the tree in the middle of the night. With that said, this year I will treasure the moment seeing the magic in their eyes, and excitement on their faces when they finally see the gifts under the tree. Although, Santa may not stop at our house next year, the spirit of everything Santa stands for will be forever in our home.

Now, I pray that my son doesn’t read this blog before Christmas or my goose is cooked.

Jenny,
Sister of Soul

Soulspiration of the Week:
“Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred, and we are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmas-time." ~Laura Ingalls Wilder

Miracle of the Heart

There’s always a special something in the air during the holiday season. For some it inspires a permanent grin affixed on their face, rouses a kind deed amongst the hustle and bustle, or motivates nonstop humming while going through daily tasks. So what exactly is inspiring all this behavior? I believe it’s because people live with more of an open heart this time of year.

Living with an open heart is one of the leading causes of happiness. When we live with an open heart we express gratitude easily, are quick to forgive, and continuously wish others health and happiness.

I just finished listening to a great interview of Marci Shimoff, author of Happy for No Reason. She told a great true story that supports the power of living with an open heart. A woman had been living with Lupus for 15 years. Bound to a wheelchair and constantly in pain she was very depressed. She came across the concept of meta meditation, which is the act of silently wishing everyone you meet a wish of health and happiness. While she was skeptical she decided that she had nothing to lose and so she made a commitment to herself to practice meta meditation for one year. She would wake up every morning, sit up in bed, and say silently to herself, “May I be safe, may I be happy, my I be healthy, may I live with ease.” And then with everyone she would meet through the day, from the people in line behind her at the store, to the fellow drivers on the road, she would silently send them this wish, “May you be safe, may you be happy, may you be healthy, may you live with ease.”

It has been a year and doctors are now calling her a medical miracle. She is completely symptom free, out of her wheelchair, and exercising three days a week. The only thing that changed in her life was the openness of her heart.

After hearing a story like this you have to ask yourself, “is it possible to heal by wishing others well?” I’m not exactly sure myself, but one thing if for sure; I’ll be trying this meta meditation out for myself! What do I have to lose, right? What a beautiful act of self-love and a generous gift to others…and what better time of year to try it out than during the holidays?

Becky,
Sister of Soul

Soulspiration of the Week:
“Today, see if you can stretch your heart and expand your love so that it touches not only those to whom you can give it easily, but also to those who need it so much.” ~Unknown