Avoid the stress of the holidays, and enjoy yourself, by being present and thankful.

Let’s face it, the whirlwind of Thanksgiving and the winter holiday season can be a stressful time of year. Between trying to pull off a seamless Thanksgiving dinner that accommodates everyone’s food allergies and preferences, to shopping for holiday gifts and making homemade treats for everyone on your list, the time between Halloween and New Year’s just flies by–and often without us taking the time to smell the fir trees.

Get off the Christmas cookie  treadmill this year and take the time to enjoy your holidays by being more present and appreciating all that you have for which to be thankful. I know it seems like idealistic, but it is simple to slow down and make each moment of this joyous season count.

Need some inspiration? Of course, you do. We all need some inspiration to unwind, de-stress, be present in the moment, and grateful for the good in our lives. It’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day grind, so take a look at our suggestions for being present and thankful this season.

How to Be Present and Thankful This Thanksgiving

1. Share Your Daily Gratitude – Some folks make a point of sharing one thing they are grateful for every day on social media. It’s a great exercise for pushing out the negative in our lives and helping to focus on all the positive.
2. Giving Thanks at the Thanksgiving Table – The Thanksgiving table is an obvious place to share your thanks. Take turns sharing things about which you are thankful while eating the Thanksgiving meal. It’s also a great way to avoid those awkward politically charged discussions at the table!
3. Mother Nature Mindfulness – Getting out in nature is a wonderful and proven way to get yourself to be present and mindful. Whether it is a walk in the woods, along the waterside, or just a bike ride down to the local park, nature has a way of helping to bring perspective into our daily lives.
4. Journal Your Thanks – If you aren’t into sharing what you are thankful publicly on social media, jot down your daily affirmation in a journal instead. You don’t have to share it with the world to make it meaningful.
5. Avoid the “Perfection” Trap of Social Media – Remember that most of those seemingly perfect pies, tablescapes, and recipes you see on Pinterest and Instagram are carefully curated. Don’t beat yourself up when your pie doesn’t turn out just like the picture. It’s not the destination, but the journey that counts.
6. Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff – Sometimes, this seems to be easier said than done, but remember to keep perspective. If the gravy doesn’t turn out, have a laugh about it and move on. Spending time with your family should be the focus.
7. Schedule Time for Yourself – Don’t forget to schedule some time for yourself this season. Whether it’s a hot bath, a long run, or a good book and some tea, remember to give yourself quiet time. You can’t appreciate the good in your life if you are always on the go.
8. Give Back – This time of year is busy, but do make some time to give back by volunteering at the local food bank, being a mentor, or for supporting another good cause. Sometimes taking care of yourself means taking care of others.
9. Get Outside Your Comfort Zone – It’s easy to get in a rut with your daily routine and feel like you are just going through the motions. Be more present by trying something new to shake you out of your rut. Take a class, volunteer, take up yoga, learn a new language, but do something outside your normal routine.

Related on EcoSalon

7 Thanksgiving Dinner Survival Tips for Hosting a Stress-Free Celebration

11 Thanksgiving Crafts to Start Now for Setting Your Holiday Harvest Table

Reduce Food Waste this Thanksgiving: Prep Less, Eat Less and Be Thankful for Enough

Image: Thanksgiving Dinner via Shutterstock

The post Simple Ways to be Present and Thankful This Thanksgiving appeared first on EcoSalon.

Be prepared for anything.

I was in the ladies room when I ran into a good-friend-of-a-good-friend. We were thrilled to see each other. “I didn’t know you’d be here!” I said as we hugged.

“Well how often do you come to this city to speak?! I wouldn’t miss it!” she replied.

We caught up quickly on our kids and men and careers. It was slightly rushed because I was about to go on stage to speak.

That last time I’d seen her, she and her husband were handing me a large check as an investment into my old company. Like everyone who invested in the business — from family to Venture Capitalists — they had high hopes for success that we’d all profit from. The business went sideways. When I sent out an email to my circle of friends/investors that it was game over — the company was failing fast — I guarded myself for critical responses. My business savvy friends consoled me: People don’t invest unless they can afford to lose. Everyone here is a grown up. You can move on. Still, I had to wipe the tears off of my keyboard when I pressed send on that email.

Back to the ladies rooms in a snowy city five minutes before curtain call…

“You know I just want to tell you how happy I am for all of your success,” she said. The air got quiet, I knew something else was coming and for a nanosecond I wondered if this would be the time she rightfully gave me a verbal plow for that um, old business ordeal. Instead, this: “Your success now affirms that we were right to invest. It feels so good to know that.”

“I…I…You’re incredible. Thank you. My God…I mean…sorry it didn’t work out…wow…thank you. You’re…wow.” I was so moved. And impressed.

“Oh it’s not about the money,” she said. “It’s just a great affirmation that our instincts were good. The timing wasn’t right, but our hearts were.”

Thankfully I had a crowd waiting, because I could have wept then and there. I bit my lip to distract myself from crying. We hugged. I went off to do my thing and on the plane ride home, I surmised that that was one of the most beautiful acts of grace I’d ever been on the receiving end of.

Loss brings out our truest self.
And while natural grace doesn’t come naturally to all of us —
especially when we lose — it can be cultivated…
if you go out of your way to be grateful.

Danielle LaPorte is the outspoken author of The Fire Starter Sessions: A Soulful + Practical Guide for Creating Success on Your Own Terms (from Random House/Crown). A business strategist and inspirational speaker, she’s the co-creator of Your Big Beautiful Book Plan, and her next online program launches this November, called, THE DESIRE MAP.
Over a million visitors have gone to DanielleLaPorte.com for her straight-up advice — a site that’s been deemed “the best place on-line for kick-ass spirituality”, and was named one of the “Top 100 Websites for Women” by Forbes.
Danielle has been featured in Elle, Body + Soul, Vogue Australia, Better Homes & Gardens, Globe & Mail, The National Post, The Huffington Post, Entertainment Tonight, USAToday and BusinessWeek.com. She was a news show commentator for CBC, and is a former director of a Washington-DC think tank, where she managed a team of analysts studying global trends for the likes of the Pentagon and the World Bank.
Based in Vancouver, BC, you can find her on Facebook and Twitter @daniellelaporte

Image: Kevin Murphy

The post How To Be Classy When It Doesn’t Work Out The Way You Expected. The Grace of Loss appeared first on EcoSalon.