CELIA McBRIDE

Dearest Readers,

This will be a short post today as I’ve committed to helping with a specific chore and time is running out with all I have to do this morning.

The chore is, in fact, a service. My upstairs neighbours have been kind enough to let me use their second vehicle for errands that require four wheels. In order to give back I have committed to helping them clean it so they can now sell it.

This service is really the least I can do. They wouldn’t take my money and I believe in paying back. Sometimes we are given gifts and we need to accept them as such. But other times we are obligated to return the gift through selfless service. This is how we maintain spiritual balance.

Inspiring Message of the Day: I will make good on any non-monetary debts I owe through service. I will give back by taking action in the appropriate way.

Dearest Readers,

I hope you all had a wonderful Sunday. It’s the start of a new week and though I like to live one day at a time (to the best of my ability) it’s beginning to feel a lot (more) like Christmas.

The lights are up, the music is playing in the stores, the countdown is on.

I can actually get into the Christmas spirit. It’s not about the shopping for me at all but that feeling of excitement that can only be felt around this time of year.

Not everyone feels it. I know a woman who associates Christmas with the death of her father and being drunk for many years and so ruining it for her kid. I heard her say, “I’m sure everybody hates Christmas.” That’s how much she hated it. So much that she believed everyone else did, too.

And no doubt the homeless living in this city and others have no love for this time of year. And the incarcerated. This season is about togetherness and connectedness with family and friends and anyone who is in a situation where this is impossible acutely feels the loss of it and therefore is not happy about the advent of the holidays.

I’m going to be staying home this year. I’ve decided not to travel to be with my family and so it’ll be just me and the cat. I’ve got lots of friends with whom I can spend the time and so I’ll do that but I’m also going to nest and enjoy the solitude.

Since I have no obligations I’m also looking to where I can be of service. How can I help? How can I give away some of the “spirit” I’m feeling? What can I do to share the love and hope in my life with others who feel they have none? This is my prayer.

Inspiring Message of the Day: As the holiday season approaches I will look for opportunities to be of service to others. I will share the spirit of the season by giving of myself when I am called to do so.