Tuesday 10 December 2019

All I want for Christmas is ..... not what you think




A week in a Suite in the Shelbourne? No thanks.
All Ireland corporate box tickets? No thanks.
A limousine with driver and champagne bar? What would I do with that?

An office with staff? No thanks.
A holiday home in Monaco? No thanks
A 60 inch TV with surround sound? What would I do with that?

Love? Joy? Kindness? Yes, please.
It is not your money that will make me happy.
I want to live in simplicity and contribution.
Discovering inner freedom.
Being me.




Chasing numbers? No thanks.
Using a fork and knife to eat a burger? No thanks.
Watching stuff on TV just for the water cooler? Why would I do that?

False promises? No thanks.
Fact free thinking? No thanks.
Expanding wealth portfolio? Why would I do that?

Love? Joy? Kindness? Yes, please.
It is not your money that will make me happy.
I want to live in simplicity and contribution.
Discovering inner freedom.
Being me.



Welcome to my reality.
A world.
Full of presence.
Where we are.
Us.
Unashamedly Us.
Limitless Us.
Lovingly Us.

That's all I want for Christmas. I'll put out a stocking just in case.

Patte xxx



*Inspired by the lyrics of Je Veux by ZAZ







Tuesday 3 December 2019

The Stresstive season or the Connective Season?


The festive season is upon us and that brings with it a hive of activities. We have to buy presents, go to office parties, get the food sorted, know when we are going to visit who, make sure we don’t forget anyone, send cards, put up the decorations, …

In the meantime, our daily lives are still the same. We still have a job to go to or to get, children to collect from school, housework needs to be done, bills have to be paid, pets looked after, …

Does all this sound like a festive season, used to rest and reflect on the year that has gone by? A season where we take stock and enjoy the next steps in our lives? A season where we reconnect spiritually, whatever that may mean to you? A season of goodwill, friendship, empathy, and love?

Stresstive Season
Or does it sound like a stresstive season? A season where we are forced to jump through all kinds of hoops to keep everyone happy. When we are expected to be merry 24/7? Where we 'have to' socialise, buy, behave, join in?

What if we made it a Connective Season instead?

How do we do that I hear you ask? What if we tried some or all of the following until early January?

1- Connect with yourself. Give your self some space each day and engage with things you love fully and do so in the moment. ‘Do lots of what you would really like to do, little of what you tolerate and nothing you hate.’ (John Assaraf)

2- Connect with those around you whom you love to see how they are coping. The stresstivities might get to them. Keep your ears and eyes open for signs that they want a break from it. You could be the person they get to share that break with.

3- Connect with the spirit of the time of year. Instead of buying presents, be present. Give time, a listening ear, thank you’s, a smile, empathy, and love to all you meet. Perform random acts of kindness. Volunteer. Cook. Exercise. Dance. Be.

Connective Season
In short, do what is good for you and those around you: Live from within rather than just fitting in without.

Have a Connective season,

Patte xxx