With so many AgeEsteemers in multiple countries around the world, it seems appropriate to feature international holidays. Holiday does not necessarily mean time off from work and businesses closed. It simply means a day that has been deemed as a special day internationally.
With gratitude to the Earth Calendar which has compiled information on special days around the world.
For information concerning World Thinking Day visit http://www.worldthinkingday.org/en/about
Sharing love enhances our age-esteem.
A tradition I have tried to keep over the years is to personally create the Valentine’s cards I send. They usually are collages with hearts, feathers and papers of varying textures. Each is a unique labor of love. I send them through the post in an old fashioned handwritten, stamped envelope.
A year ago I declared a Valentine’s Day each week. Once a year seems much too limiting for this positive expression of caring.
I caught this idea from Shirley Pollock who made it her job to send a note to someone each day. Sometimes it was a thank you. Other times she simply said she was thinking about you or hoped you were feeling better. She expressed praise for something you had done or reminded you of one of your qualities that she admired. Her notes were treasured by those who received them. She made every day a Valentine’s Day!
My original goal was to send at least one special note each week. Over past months this has grown. I now write several cards each week to let others know how special they are to me. I find is that focusing on relationships in this way makes positives excel and negatives disappear.
Why not make every day a Valentine’s Day and fill your heart with love?
What a wonderful invention Valentine’s Day is!
It nudges us with encouragement to express love. On the 14th of February we step out of our regular routine to remind friends and family that we love them. They are important to us.
Lacy cards with poems, bouquets of red roses, candies that say Be My Valentine, and heart shaped boxes filled with chocolates are just some of the ways we express our feelings to tell people they’re special.
Letting others know that you are thinking of them and that you care is healthy for your AgeEsteem. You focus on
- People who you love of all ages
- The blessings of friends and family
- Reaching out to others
- Renewing and strengthening contacts
- Creating or finding the right message
- Celebrating happiness
My wish for you at every age is to
- Live each day fully.
- Stretch your body, mind and spirit.
- Embrace new experiences.
- Share your talents with others of all ages.
- Learn something new each day.
- Celebrate frequently.
- Seek the positive in each person and experience.
- Give thanks for the blessings of your life.
- Meet new challenges with a sense of adventure.
- Greet each new day with anticipation and zest.
- Become a living model of AgeEsteem for those who meet you!
The time between 2009 and 2010 is a split second, yet it announces an end to a year and the beginning of a new decade.
Everything is possible in this new decade. It is for us to explore, define and act. It is interesting to recognize that what we wish for today is very different from what we wished for ten, twenty or more years ago. As the world evolves, so do we. As we age and mature, so do our desires and dreams. But it remains up to us to drive our dreams to fruition.
What better time to reflect on your accomplishments of this past year and to dream of what you wish for during this new year and decade.
Write these desires and dreams down on a sheet of paper today. Make them as honest as possible, not worrying about “how” they might evolve. For the moment simply define them and write them down. Save this paper where you can read it every few months. The simple act of writing your desires and dreams helps you to make them happen.
Home Alone
Are you alone for the holidays? It happens more frequently to us as we get older. Loved ones have died. Family is far away.
There are two ways to look at being home alone for the holidays. First is to feel alone and lonely. If that is your case, then take control. Tune into your AgeEsteem. Shake out of your lonliness by inviting others in.
- Attend holiday programs and services. Many offer a pick-up service. Or invite a friend who drives to accompany you.
- Invite other singles to your home for some holiday cheer. Some may feel as lonely as you.
- Organize an event with neighborhood children. It can be as simple as hot chocolate and a story. Parents will be pleased to have some free time for their own preparations.
- Volunteer in a soup kitchen or shelter.
- Dress up as Santa Claus or Mrs. Claus and visit neighbors to deliver homemade cookies.
The second way to look at being home alone for the holidays is to see it as being with yourself. You are in your own company and able to enjoy the time by yourself. Plan activities that relate to the holidays.
- Watch The Christmas Story.
- Listen to your favorite holiday music.
- Get out your photo albums and renew the joys of past holidays.
- Begin a journal of happy memories of holidays past.
- Make yourself a special meal and savor it.
Being home alone can be peaceful, joyous and loving. Let your AgeEsteem attitude shine through and enjoy!
It is always lovely to receive a package to unwrap with anticipation of discovery.
The greatest gifts are those that come from the heart and the gift of self. Are you wondering what to offer someone? Offer yourself!
- Offer your time to do something with your children or grandchildren that they are dreaming to do with you; take a half day vacation.
- Offer to teach a friend how to use all of the bells and whistles on their mobile phone.
- Offer a box of homemade goodies.
- Offer to help your partner create a winter garden.
- Offer a page of special photos.
By offering your time and talents you also offer yourself several keys to AgeEsteem: purpose, social contact, learning something new, celebrating with people of other generations…
To all of you who are celebrating Thanksgiving this month, today, and every day,
