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Wings of Awareness Newsletter
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Faith and Gratitude
November 21,2006
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Dear Friend,
When it comes to giving thanks at Thanksgiving we
think of all that we have to be grateful for. Often we
have a list...friends, family, home...all of those things
that we consider blessings. Of course, this
means that in our minds we are separating that for
which we are grateful from that for which we are not
grateful.
I believe that true faith requires us to be grateful for
all of it...that which we like and that which we don't
like...that which makes us comfortable and that
which makes us uncomfortable. It is cultivating an
attitude that says "The circumstances of my life are
happening for me, not to me" and to
look for the gift in your situation.
It is hard to be grateful for what we perceive to be
the difficulties in our lives, the things that make us
feel bad. Often, in retrospect, we can see how what
we thought we didn't want in our lives turned out to
be a blessing. Faith is being grateful for
everything as a blessing even before we can
see how it is one. Indeed, a worthy
challenge.
We, at Wings of Awareness are
thankful for our connection with each one of you.
We wish you and your families a joyous, loving and
peaceful Thanksgiving!
Dina and Dan
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Thankful heart
Thou hast given so much to me,
Give one thing more, - a grateful heart;
Not thankful when it pleaseth me,
As if Thy blessings had spare days,
But such a heart whose pulse may be Thy praise.
George Herbert
The unthankful heart... discovers no mercies; but let
the thankful heart sweep through the day and, as
the magnet finds the iron, so it will find, in every
hour, some heavenly blessings!
Henry Ward
Beecher
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Thanksgiving thoughts.....
Thanksgiving Day is a jewel, to set in the hearts of
honest men; but be careful that you do not take the
day, and leave out the gratitude.
E.P.
Powell
I awoke this morning with devout thanksgiving for my
friends, the old and new.
Ralph Waldo
Emerson
Thanksgiving dinners take eighteen hours to prepare.
They are consumed in twelve minutes. Half-times
take twelve minutes. This is not
coincidence.
Erma Bombeck
Feeling
gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a
present and not giving it.
William Arthur
Ward
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It's the "Most Wonderful Time of the Year"
Dealing with Holiday Stress
The holidays can be a joyous time but many people
also find it a stressful time. The American
Psychological Association has some suggestions
about how to reduce or manage the stress.
Sometimes when we are "in the thick of things" it can
be helpful to remind ourselves what the holidays are
really all about and it is useful to review these
common sense recommendations....
From http://www.apahelpcenter.org
If you're stressed because of the holidays, here are
some positive things you can do to deal with holiday
stress and build resilience:
Make connections. Good relationships with family and
friends are important. So, view the holidays as a time
to reconnect with people. And, accept help and
support from those who care about you to help
alleviate stress.
Set realistic goals. Taking small, concrete steps to
deal with holiday tasks instead of overwhelming
yourself with goals that are too far-reaching for a
busy time.
Keep things in perspective. Try to consider stressful
situations in a broader context and keep a long-term
perspective. Avoid blowing events out of
proportion.
Take decisive actions. Instead of letting holiday
stressors get the best of you, make a decision to
address the underlying cause of a stressful
situation.
Take care of yourself. Pay attention to your own
needs and feelings during the holiday season. Engage
in activities that you enjoy and find relaxing. Taking
care of yourself helps keep your mind and body
primed to deal with stressful situations.
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We value our connection with each and every one of
you. We would love to hear any feedback you have
about this newsletter or requests for future topics!
Also, feel free to forward this newsletter to your
friends or family. If you do not wish to keep
receiving this newsletter, please unsubscribe below.
Thank you, Dan and Dina
Daniel Wilson
Wings of Awareness
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