OK people…the season is upon us. Can you feel it? Can you see it? I bet you can even taste it and smell it!! Yes, Christmas is here! Typically I absolutely despise this time of year…yes I have even been called a ‘Scrooge’ by my 8 year old daughter, who of course does NOT despise this time of year. But for 2009, OK I admit it, I am actually embracing the season of stress.

A few things have changed in my life that may be the cause of this new attitude, but I think the most important one is that I am seeing that the true spirit of the season is not about spending money…duhh…it is about spending time - which is yes, MUCH more important than money. Time with, yes…loved ones! Time eating yummy food, drinking yummy drinks and if there happen to be gifts exchanged, then great! But hey, just living in Victoria is an amazing gift that we should all be grateful for every day, and the fact that we can just walk into a grocery store and choose from a ridiculous selection of ‘holiday items’ is really astounding when you look at the ‘lack’ in other parts of the world. We are truly abundant and we must find the time to share this wealth whenever, wherever and however we can. With loved ones and strangers!

So as part of my embracing the ‘season’ this year, I am organizing en event called Wandering Yogi 2009. I believe the children are the most important ones, and that they need our support the most, so the whole Wandering Yogi Event is a fund raiser for http://www.kidsportvictoria.ca/about.shtml. Expect lots more about this coming soon, and in the meantime, when you feel that little ‘poverty consciousness gremlin’ trying to creep in to your psyche, tell it to take a hike and remember that your truest, most relaxed and most healthy self is the greatest gift you can give to the world, and that those in need will be better off if you are strong. So be it!!

“Don’t worry about what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and do that, because what the world needs are people who have come alive.”

- Howard Thurman