“You’ve always had the power, my dear. You’ve had it all along. You are capable of more than you know.”
– Glinda, The Good Witch Of The North, The Wizard Of Oz.

I danced around the house the day of the TV screening of The Wizard of Oz. I fell in love with kindly Glinda. I wanted Dorothy’s dark curls and ruby slippers. Scraggly Scarecrow, the melancholy Tin Man, the silly Lion and scrappy Toto filled my child’s imagination. It was all I needed at the time, but the story said so much more. It took 40 years for me to understood the power in it: your rewards in life are not so much about the adventures but the characters who become friends. They do not slide into your life by accident, they have the one unique skill that will burn the witch when you are under fire. Because of their love, generosity, grace and good-heartedness you survive in this world. And you are this gift for someone too. The holidays are almost here. Will the spirit get buried in the hustle and bustle this year? I’ve put together five holiday giving ideas that, I believe, reclaim the spirit of the season.

A reminder of why.
“Some thoughts as we enter the holiday season…It is important to remember that not everyone is surrounded by large wonderful families. Some of us have problems during the holidays and sometimes are overcome with great sadness when we remember the loved ones who are not with us. And, many people have no one to spend these times with and are besieged by loneliness. We all need caring, loving thoughts right now. Share this to give a moment of support to all those who have family problems, health struggles, job issues, worries of any kind and just need to know that someone cares. Do it for all of us, for nobody is immune.”
–Facebook post

Do it for all of us.
Dorothy did have the power but it was the good heartedness of her friends that got her back to Kansas. The same can be said of our collective goodwill and personal abundance, they are dependent upon each other. Rather than keep the power, we stimulate more good when we give it away. We have an opportunity to turn one life or a community around this holiday season. These five holiday giving ideas keep everyone’s spirit up and our spirit alive.

• Love
  Spread your heart. Fear and hopelessness come from feeling isolated. Giving your partner, family member or friend a twenty-two second hug releases the bonding hormone and neurotransmitter oxytocin, which is nature’s anti-depressant and anti-anxiety drug. For a stranger, give them a grin, it’s a gesture they won’t forget.
• Forgiveness
  Rewrite your story. Is there a grievance with a friend that hasn’t been resolved? Call or write them a letter. Sincerely express your feelings. Ask for forgiveness. You may change their heart and definitely you will have changed the past for a better future. If you need a prompt, here is the loving forgiveness prayer of  Ho’oponopono written by Dr. Joe Vitale: “I love you, I’m sorry, forgive me, thank you.”
• Kindness
  Stop your humbug. Simple gestures performed with compassion create miracles. Pay a compliment, share your seat on the bus, play with a child or walk an elder across the street. This spreads a contagion of abundance and interconnectedness that is needed most right now.     
• Generosity
  Give your time. Treat holiday panic by doing something for someone who could never repay you. Serve soup at a homeless shelter. Adopt an assisted living care resident for the holidays. Converse with them, read a story, bring a gift. Involve your children with making handmade gifts for the Christmas bazaar or prepare dinner once a week for a shut-in neighbor. Engaging your hands with your heart feels good.
• Peace
  Calm your heart. You don’t need to take on the ills of the world nor even one person’s misfortune, but when you give a bit of loving kindness, your generosity, your time, your talent you give a bigger gift: you expand borders from your heart to another and you defeat depression and build community. Performing good deeds with no expectation creates peace and that makes things right with the world.

Gifts for you.
I received such an overwhelmingly positive response to these two blogs last year that I am sharing them with you: Take Back The Holiday. Look East To Savor Thanksgiving Dinner With Six Feng Shui Trimmings and Restoring Grace: A Ritual To Replenish Your Spirit During The Holidays.

Blessings for an abundant November!

What I have discovered about our homes is that creating a heart healthy space leads to peace and contentment. The bedroom is where it begins. Start with my complimentary pdf: 27 Bedroom Concepts To Maximize Your Health, Happiness and Peace of Mind. Design your space to your best advantage. Subscribe to my blog and special offers. You’ll receive this valuable Feng Shui Guide as a thank you gift.