Coffee Break with the Barista
December 09/January 2010
Every
now and then I experience a new perspective on my day-to-day living.
Have you ever been so busy with kid activities, deadlines at work or
just basic away-from-home stuff that the thought of staying home and
cleaning out a closet actually sounded good? Conversely, a couple of
days of housework and I’m ready to hit the office.
Creating a
balanced life, I believe, is key to being productive, happy and
stress-free. Hard work provides the opportunity to enjoy those quiet
times at home; quiet moments at home pave the way to happy, productive
days at work.
The holidays provide another good opportunity to
create balance. I absolutely love the holidays. Shopping, giving gifts,
baking and creating a warm ambiance in my home — for me, it makes snow
and cold weather enjoyable. However, by the time the new year rolls
around, I’m completely ready to pack up the holiday decorations.
The
most important aspect of the holidays in terms of balance, for me, is
this — the spirit of the season gives me a new perspective on all the
blessings I have in my life. I become much more grateful for my son, my
friends, my co-workers, my dogs, my home, health and all the
conveniences that I sometimes take for granted.
And speaking of
the holidays, many people believe that Christmas has become far too
commercialized. While I agree, I try to take a different approach.
I love giving gifts, even when my pocketbook is a bit low. In that
case, I simply get a little more creative — cookies, homemade wreaths
and gift certificates for my personal services (manicure, facial or
house cleaning).
Sounds a little Suzie homemaker-ish, but gifts
that are given from the heart are felt by the heart. So if your bank
account is low this year, give gifts that come from your heart rather
than Macy’s — not that a new, large capacity turbo-charged bread
machine wouldn’t be welcome in my house!
Thanks to our readers
and advertisers for a wonderful year. We look forward to making 2010 a
joyful and prosperous year for our families, our friends and our
community.
Kindly,
Marian Rein