❄️☃️Back to December☃️❄️

What a month November has been. I feel like there have been so many lives lived in this one.

It was BUSY with work, Thanksgiving festivities, planning ahead, trying to not get sick, getting sick, starting in on all the Christmas activities, a lot of books and movie consumption while cozy on the couch, finishing out the Ecclesiastes study I’ve been doing with Proverbs 31 Ministries, gave a presentation about public relations, being highlighted/featured on Voyage LA’s website, saw a taping of Reba’s Happy’s Place…Phew!

There were very long days but a lot of good packed in there. The fall season seems to go by so quickly around here, since it technically only lasts about a few weeks with the weather and the leaves falling. 

Now, we're heading into dark, cold and wint'ry nights. We'll all be bundled in scarves and coats, filling our evenings with parties and dinners and present exchanges over the next few weeks leading up to Christmas day. Days filled with a little more sparkle, a few more jingle bells, treats and hot beverages, warm hugs and twinkling lights.

Today also officially begins the advent season. A time of waiting with anticipation and expectation for God's arrival; reading the word and growing closer to Him in the season of Jesus' birth. 

I recently finished George W. Bush’s Masterclass on Authentic Leadership. This quote came from the final lesson, where he shared more about his journey with painting and how it was something he discovered after his presidency ended. He’d never been that interested in art, so it was fascinating to hear more about his process and taking on this completely new path. Very inspiring and a reminder of the advantages of trying something new.

I don’t mean energy in the woo woo sense. But, essentially, it’s like what you give is what you get. The more I observe and learn of leadership, the environment and foundation you lay as a leader sets the tone for everything else that follows. It’s easier to observe that from what I’ve seen on the outside of being an audience member with these TV shows that the vibe of the show comes from the top. Looking at Tim Allen and Reba McEntire, their personalities and vision comes out in how the cast and crew act and respond. It’s just fascinating, to me, how our decisions and choices make a difference in the work that is done.

Reagan Baylee’s podcast about the upcoming holiday season had me thinking and asking myself a lot. We’re all so caught up in the comparison game and living vicariously through others on Instagram screens. But, what do we want out of the season? Just for something to look pretty or to actually feel something? Peace? Closer to God? Having a clear idea and plan going into the season will be a lot better than waiting for something to come up and panicking about it.

I’ve always suffered from terrible migraines, neck and shoulder pain. Just about every morning, I wake up with some sort of ache that I have hard time shaking. I’m chronically online and suffer from “tech neck” these days, hovering over my laptop and phone all day for work. I recently bought this pillow on Amazon and finally used it. I’ve tried many pillows over the years, hoping to find the right one, so I wasn’t sure what to expect with this one. The first night after using it, I didn’t have any pain or wake up with a headache. I’m excited to see how it pays off in the long run.

I had this underlined in one of my books I’ve been rereading, and it stood out to me again. Happiness is fickle in this life. But, leaning into the sweet moments, when you can, is what it’s all about.

This was in that same book. I didn’t have this underlined or highlighted but it immediately spoke to me. I’m always striving; going and doing, moving onto the next goal or task. But, I’m learning to go slower and move with more intention rather than just saying yes to everything because it sounds good. What am I passionate about? Where does God want me?

I went to the training at my nearby library because I want to get more involved in the community. They still offer so many programs for children, resources for adults, classes, storytime and even snacks/meals for those 18 and under. I love that! I think we, or at least I do, take reading and education for granted. Not everyone has the same access to tools and libraries offer that to the community.

I always hesitate to use the Ice Cap (It looks like a swimmer’s cap that you put on your head and stick in the freezer until you need it). I use the heating pads more often, but the ice has a way of freezing/numbing. With all the pressure and pain in my head from this cold, the ice cap really helped ease some of the tension. Warning - Bundle up and take slow breaths, because it can feel pretty shocking when you first put it on.

Births of babies, sickness in the family, bumps in the road, financial struggles. We will all face things or know someone going through something. No, we don't all have the same skillsets to necessarily balance out what is lacking, but we can help where we can. Send a note of encouragement, make a meal, drop off a baked treat, watch the kids, sit with them and watch a movie. I'm needing to take my own advice. But, life has just reminded me, lately, of the importance of showing up and caring for others when they aren't able to. 

I had quite a few credits on Audible that I didn't realize I had on my account. So I decided to use them for a Christmas story by an author I like and several celebrity autobiographies, which should be fun. We'll see how this goes!