I am slowing down for the month of December and inviting you to come along with me — in whatever way works for you — to create your own #slowholidays. (More details here.) Thank you to Kara Fleck of  Simple Kids for sharing #slowholidays with her readers. I am honored and inspired by Kara’s beautiful words.

This was my moment of surrender yesterday.

On the ride home from volunteering at my children’s school. Before starting my work day. Along the shore of my favorite river.

As I was driving I was thinking about you. (As I often do.) And all of us whose hearts are cracked open with sadness, grief and confusion.

I was feeling the need to say something, to write something, to share some Light in the darkness that descended upon us last Friday.

And yet, the truth is, I am just barely keeping my head above water this week as I tend to the needs of my own family and our immediate community.

And then I remembered what I wrote at the beginning of this month.

I remembered that I made a promise to you and to myself when I introduced the idea of #slowholidays.

Because this is all about self-care and slowing down, I promise that if I need to pull in and step back from this space, I’ll let you know and do just that.

And if you need to spend some time offline or be offline completely or just quietly follow along through your e-mail, I understand.

(Believe me, I understand.)

This is all about slowing down and gently guiding our beautiful, sensitive selves through the holidays in a way that feels good. Okay?

And so, instead of racing home to squeeze in a blog post before afternoon client meetings, I stopped.

I got out of my car. I walked along the river and felt the wind on my face.

I listened to the rushing water and right there I let go of the need to “do anything” other than continue to pray, hold my loved ones close, and to show up as the most gentle and loving person I can be in each and every moment.

It was a deeply healing moment for me — and one that I would like to gently challenge you to create for yourself.

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Whatever holidays you are celebrating, wherever you are on your To-Do List . . . Stop what you are doing. Take Three Deep Breaths. Come fully into your body and your heart space and ask yourself these questions:

*  What is most important in this moment?

*  How do I want to feel as I celebrate the holidays?

*  What am I willing to let go of to make space for what matters most?

And then do it, my friend.

For yourself. For your family. For our world.

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Want more gentle support? My first Guided Relaxation CD, Three Deep Breaths, is now available for instant download — for just $8.91 — via iTunes, Amazon and other online outlets. Click the image to the left (or right HERE) to learn more and hear a sample track.

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Tagged as: #slowholidays