Listen For The Quiet

With the holiday seasons upon us, many of us are busy making plans on how to celebrate the coming Christmas and New Year.

There will be many presents to buy, parties to plan and invitations to send.

There will also be the worries of how much money we can afford to splurge during these holidays. And of course, you are also faced with the various challenges of shopping for presents in the crowded malls.

It is at these times that we feel very stressed - stressed with the lack of time, the crowds everywhere, the difficulties finding a parking space.

And also wondering how to maintain the holiday cheers amidst being frazzled with all that needs to be done.

There are unspoken expectations to fulfill - from your spouse, from your children and from your family; expectations that everything will be perfect - the perfect present, the perfect party, the perfect good cheer.

When you are stressed and tense, go somewhere to find 30 seconds of quietness. Spend the time to gather your thoughts and calm yourself.

Let calm thoughts permeate through your mind. Picture calm scenes that you have previously encountered, perhaps a favorite holiday.

Listen for silence in the midst of all the Christmas carols.

Listen for the quiet that you find in unexpected places.

And find your sanity in all these madness.

Awaken to the beauty that money cannot buy in the shopping malls...