Posts tagged christmas

Breathe, O breathe Thy loving Spirit, Into every troubled breast!
Let us all in Thee inherit; Let us find that promised rest.
-Charles Wesley, Love Divine.

Anticipation

We’re closing in on Christmas. Whether you celebrate the holidays or not, I imagine you will agree with me here: anticipation is in the air. This anticipation is not just for the gifts and festivities of the season’s climax; this anticipation is for a new year, a fresh start. 2016 has been quite an interesting one to say the least. Whatever your experience is, I want to applaud you for showing up and staying courageous and committed to the process. It’s that feeling of finishing a long book (preferably a hard copy), placing it ever so gingerly on the book shelf next to the host of other old companions you’ve learned from, and then standing back with a deep sigh of prideful relief as you admire your handiwork.

DESIRE. CONNECT. THRIVE., NARRATIVE THERAPY, PERSPECTIVES, SPIRITUALITYKatie GustafsonDecember 22, 2016advent, christmas, generosity, holiday grounding, love actually, love is all you need, the beatles Comment

Holiday Grounding 3.0: Generosity of Spirit

I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.

Maya Angelou

I never start Christmas shopping until the week (or day) before Christmas. I know, ludicrous. I literally have an emotional and mental block against starting any earlier. Call it procrastination, call it laziness, call it stupid, call it whatever you want— I’m cool with it. I love a hard deadline and have always been drawn to excitement and adventure with a heavy dash of adrenalin. Practical and organized are not typically words people use to describe me, quite the contrary actually. Lead with vulnerability, right? I’m also very cool with that.

DESIRE. CONNECT. THRIVE., PERSPECTIVES, RELATIONSHIP INSPIRATION, SPIRITUALITYKatie GustafsonDecember 15, 2016christmas, generosity, holiday grounding, maya angelou, rat pack, ruthie lindsey, songwritingComment

Holiday Grounding 1.0: The Comparison Conundrum

Sometimes I need only to stand wherever I am to be blessed.

-Mary Oliver

I spent Thanksgiving week traveling up the coast of California. It’d been a while since I carved out some space and time from work to rest, refuel, and get inspired. Bustling cities and new scenery are food and drink for my constantly grazing right brain. Beauty feeds my soul and feast I did all the way from the stunning beaches and glamorous people of Malibu to the magical cliffs and redwoods of Big Sur to the charming European-influenced smattering of architecture, shops, and restaurants in Carmel-by-the-sea.

SPIRITUALITY, DESIRE. CONNECT. THRIVE., CREATIVE LIFE, PERSPECTIVES, STRONG STORIESKatie GustafsonDecember 1, 2016carmel by the sea, christmas, comparison, enneagram, holiday, mary oliver, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, ShrekComment