TGIM: A Merry Monday

Welcome back to Thank God It’s Monday!
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​tl;dr The Christmas spirit can be easily overshadowed by travel, busyness, and gifting. So let’s bring it back to the basics and set the tone for the week.

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​C – Celebrate life. Christmas celebrates a birth and welcomes new life. Celebrate with the same open heart that you feel when thinking of a newborn.
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​H – Harness humility. When celebrating in the company of others, remember everyone comes to the table with a different story and in a different season of life. Don’t use your frame of mind to decide how others should be.
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​R – Ready for renewal. With the new year just around the corner, reflect on the goals you accomplished and those you fell short of. Use that to prepare for the upcoming year.
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​I – Integrity. Do what you say you’re going to do. During the holidays, people love to make too many plans and then not follow through on many of them. But how we do one thing is how we do anything. Make sure you keep your word (or don’t make the plans in the first place).
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​S – Slow down. Everyone loves to talk about how fast the season between Halloween and New Year’s goes. If you got swept up in the rush of it, take the time to slow down now. Enjoy your family. Enjoy the small moments. Take a breath.
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​T – Take time together. Life is so short. Even if you get frustrated or annoyed by family, try to adopt a perspective on the brevity of life to appreciate the time you have.
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​M – Merry & bright. It’s unrealistic to be positive all of the time. However, this weekend I heard someone say it is a responsibility to bring that perspective. We don’t always have to be falsely positive, but deciding to do so will improve your mindset and the company you keep.
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​A – Awareness attitude. Take note of your surroundings. Look for those who might need a helping hand or a smile in their direction. You can make someone’s day by giving them a compliment or offering help. Stay aware of those you can help this week.
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​S – Sit still. This echoes the call to slow down because I know it’s the hardest for people, especially during a busy season. But we spend so much time in our lives rushing around, use the holiday to practice centering yourself. Notice what you’re feeling, hearing, and seeing. Practice bringing yourself back to the moment. Just sit still for a moment.
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Have a wonderful holiday, everyone! Maybe next year I’ll tackle an acronym for Chanukkah. In the meantime, enjoy the time with your loved ones. If you need anything, please reach out!
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If you found some value in this, please share it with a friend you think would enjoy it! And let me know if you’d like to be added to get TGIM.
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​This week, my podcast recommendation is new from Science Vs. “Is AI Making Us Stupid?”
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Merry Christmas!
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Until next time,
Shannon