How do you celebrate?

We’ll take a pause here, having finished up with our latest tour of the Buddha’s eightfold path, to acknowledge that for many of us, the annual holiday season is different from the rest of the year. Around the world, people are pausing their regular activities to celebrate something – a religious holiday, the new calendar year, a break from school and work, or something else. Whatever it is, what is expected of us can feel overwhelming. Whether it’s the pressure to purchase gifts, to spend time with extended family (sometimes in confined spaces), challenging travel commitments, too much intoxication, missing people who have died or are far away, financial strains, or just reflections on how life is going for us, this season may bring extra pressure to bear.

For some, of course, it’s a period of excitement and joy: reuniting with loved ones, singing together, attending meaningful religious ceremonies, enjoying the pleasure of giving gifts to those we care for – all of this can be revitalizing.

How can we make the most of this time? How can we bring our best to those in our world? Apart from any rituals or customs, we can give the gift of mindfulness to ourselves and others. We can resist the temptation to rush; we can speak to others after pausing to consider whether we’re coming from a place of kindness; we can think less about what we want and more about what would be comforting or meaningful for others. In the pressure cooker of the holidays, our mindfulness practice can take root and grow if we set our intention in that direction.

May your holiday season bear fruit in the most beneficial ways possible.