Monday Mantra: Be Present

As we approach the final week before the holidays, and as I have yet to start shopping for gifts (hello, online shopping and overnight delivery), I’m reminded of how special these days ahead are. It’s easy to get wrapped up (no pun intended) in all of the minutia of the holidays: did I get gifts for everyone on my list? Do I have the dinner menu prepped? And even, did I remember to send Christmas cards out? But the most important gift you can ever give is the gift of being present.

Long Island saw its first snow over the weekend, and before the roads got plowed and people started going about their day, I enjoyed the stillness that the weather brought. It was a simple thing, but it was a morning I will be sure to remember.

I always feel like the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas goes by quickly. We are so busy getting things ready for the holidays — and there is plenty to do. But how about we take a few minutes out this week to listen to a Christmas song that brings us joy (for me, that would be “Carol of the Bells”), breathe in the smell of the season (gingerbread cookies, anyone?), and enjoy life at a slower pace. I’m looking forward to spending a day in New York City right before the holidays to see the tree at Rockerfeller Center and to peruse the holiday windows. Experiences like those are what I always remember about this time of year.

How do you slow down and celebrate the season?