The Love of Family

Yesterday I returned from visiting my family in Georgia for the Christmas holiday. Those of you who follow me on Facebook know that I had a wonderful time. It was actually one of the best times I've had with my family in a very long time. It was very low stress. There were no blow-ups or arguments with anyone. All in all it was very pleasant. There was lots of loving energy in my parents' home. That hasn't always been the case, but there's no need to dwell on it. The most important thing is that we all came together at a time when families are meant to be together and we shared the holiday.

On Tuesday I begin my yoga teacher training. I think my commitment to yoga has shifted my perception and my perspective in the best possible way. It's given me more of an ability to look at the big picture. Don't get me wrong. I've always been a "big picture" kind of person, but I don't think I truly understood how to recognize what was significant and what was insignificant with regard to my big picture. While I was at my parents' house I mentioned something about being poor, and my dad stopped me. He said, "As long as you have a job, a place to live, and food to eat you're not poor." In the past, my dad would've agreed with me and maybe even said that he was poor, too. But when I look at my big picture, I know that my dad is right. I have a good job, and I'm in the process of training for another one. That good job pays decent money, which allows me to provide a roof over my head and food in my stomach. The most important thing of all is that I have a family who loves me and are willing to help me in any way they can. Me, poor? Nah. Just because I'm not rich monetarily doesn't mean that I'm not rich in the way that truly counts.

This is an old picture, but I still like it :-).

The Ring's Not the Thing

As the holiday season is coming to a close, I know there are a lot of disappointed women out there who were expecting an engagement ring as a Christmas gift. When my ex and I were together any time Valentine's Day, my birthday, or Christmas rolled around there was a woman in my office who would always ask me if I got a ring. She was like "What did Bryan get you? Did you get a diamond?" First of all I don't like diamonds. Second of all getting a ring on one of those three days is such a cliche.

It's amazing that the female mentality has evolved greatly in every aspect except this one. Women have high-powered jobs, buy their own homes, and adopt or have babies on their own. When it comes to a committed relationship with a man, many females revert right back to that 1950s mentality of waiting (im)patiently for that ring. Songs like Beyonce's Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It) reinforce that mentality. The diamond industry is constantly touting the fact that a man should spend three months' salary on an engagement right. Say what?

When a man does come up with the ring, it's gotta be the right ring. If it's too small, then she gets all upset. My ex told me that he was once willing to buy a ring for a girl, but it was going to be a small one. He asked her if she'd be willing to accept that ring until he was able to buy her a bigger one, but she said no. Since when is the ring more important that the relationship? Ladies, get your priorities straight. Don't lose the man you love just because your diamond isn't big enough. This isn't some effin' Hollywood movie. This is real life.

Thrifty, Gifty Thursday

Since today is the first day of December and I know that many of us need to do our Chritmas shopping, I will dedicate Thursdays of this month to blogging about websites where you can get handcrafted gifts for a reasonable price. First up I'd like to talk about one of my all-time favorites. I've mentioned this site several times in my blog because I really love the products. Of course I'm talking about Hailey's Dragonfly Garden. You can check it out here: http://www.haileysdragonflygarden.com/. This site offers all natural bath and body care at an affordable price. I especially like the clear body washes. Because they're all natural, they smell heavenly and the scent lasts all day. There are also many different types of soaps, and even products for babies. In these tough economic times when all big businesses are doing is taking our money and giving us subpar products, wouldn't you rather support a small business that not only has heart, but great products, too?

Remember to Breathe

Today's Christmas Eve and many are on the threshhold of seeing the plans and arrangements they made for the holidays come to fruition. The past few weeks have been a mad rush to get things done, but not just done. Done to perfection. Are the kids going to like their gifts? Will my mother-in-law think that my green bean casserole tastes just like hers? Do I have time to make the rum balls that Uncle Phil likes so much? With all of those questions and many others swirling through your head it's easy to forget what's important. Take a deep breath and remember what the most important part of the holiday season is for you. For Christians it's a celebration of the birth of Christ. For others who celebrate, but aren't Christians, it's about the wonder and merriment of Santa Claus. For all that celebrate, it's a time for making wonderful memories with friends and family. In answer to your questions: 1. Kids like getting stuff, so as long as you've taught them to keep their expectations on a reasonable level, you're golden. 2. If your green bean casserole doesn't taste like your mother-in-law's, who cares? You're not your mother-in-law. As long as the casserole isn't burnt beyond recognition, the complainers are just complaining to complain. 3. If you don't have time to make Uncle Phil's rum balls, take heart. Last time I checked, no one ever kicked the bucket from lack of their favorite rum balls on Christmas Day.

Now that I've mad you laugh, I want to make you think. As time progresses, it seems that the world has become filled with more and more turmoil. Everything that happens is pivotal and shapes the direction that our lives take. Those things make us who we are. There are some things that we can maintain control over and others that we can't. As you find yourself stressing out about getting Christmas dinner on the table a bit late, remember to look at the big picture. In the grand scheme of things, will it really matter if dinner is at 4:30 instead of 3:30? If you did have time to make the rum balls, tell Uncle Phil to have a few more and finish watching the game ;-). Have a safe and happy holiday season!