“There are two ways of spreading light:
to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.” 
– Edith Wharton

It is a welcome sight these days to see the twinkling lights that people are putting up around their houses.  These lights add a warmth to the evening that feels so inviting.

This year, as we each prepare for the Christmas season, many of us are doing so with a feeling of apprehension.  We know it will be a Christmas like no other as we continue to live with the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.  We will be limited in our ability to gather with one another in person and many of our favourite traditions will need to be altered.

Even though we may need to adapt our ways of connecting this year, we are not limited in our ability to share the warmth and the light of our hearts as a gift this season.

One of those heart-warming gifts is the gift of gratitude.  Over the years, many of us have heard of the practice of keeping a gratitude journal.  A number of years ago, I bought beautiful journals and gave them as Gratitude Journals to some members of my family.  On the first page of each journal, I wrote a letter telling that person everything I was grateful for about them.  I shared my gratitude for the many ways that their presence is a gift in my life.

The impact of this simple gift was powerful.  So often, we do not see the light in ourselves that others see in us.  Taking the time to reflect back to someone all that you are grateful for about them, helps that person see themselves through your eyes.  It can help that person come to know themselves better and to recognize the value that they contribute to the people around them.

This gift of gratitude is a way of holding up a mirror and reflecting the light that we see in others.  In this way, we help to nurture that light so that it is amplified and shines even brighter.

So if you are looking for ways to create a heartfelt connection with friends and family, I offer this gift-giving idea to you.  As we share the gift of gratitude and appreciation with others, may we spread the light of love that sustains the heart this holiday season.

Blessings,
Kathy