Cultivating Gratitude and Presence in Preparation for Christmas The countdown to Christmas is often a race to a single day of excessive gifts and overindulgence. What if, instead of "counting down," we spent the weeks leading up to Christmas in a practice of being present and grateful each day. I'm all for the chocolate Advent calendars, so this is my way of leveling up the experience. While I enjoy my chocolate of the day, I spend 3-5 minutes reflecting on a daily prompt and

You know that feeling where your schedule starts to feel really tight? It's one event after the other, last minute grocery trips, and the kitchen's a constant mess. You keep yourself going by telling yourself "it's just a season." Then suddenly, it's over. You're not sure when Thanksgiving and Christmas lost its magic, but that feeling of regret settles in because you spent so much time just trying to get through everything that you didn't stop to enjoy it. The reality is tha