I took this photo of our vintage marquee peace sign for Day 30 of my #100HappyDays challenge.
The idea behind the #100HappyDays challenge is simple and inspiring and that's why I love it so much!
Each day I get to take a photo of something that makes me happy and post it. Easy-peasy! (Click here to visit my #100HappyDays pinterest board to see the crazy variety of things that have made me happy over the last several weeks.)
The purpose of the challenge is to help people realize that it doesn't take a lot of time to be happy.
As a result of #100HappyDays I'm focused on seeing something good in my life at least once a day. Even the simplest things like a fluffed up bird sitting in a tree or the fact that tasty orange cuties are in season bring me happiness. Focusing on what brings joy to my life, even for the few moments it takes to snap a photo and post it, also brings me peace.
This aligns so nicely with my philosophy that even small amounts of time spend enjoying your Creative Oasis (whatever makes your heart sing and time fly) is time well-spent!
This is the time of year we often hear the message "Peace on earth ~ good will toward men." Ironically, it's also the time of year that can stress us out so much we end up spending much of the time feeling quite the opposite of peaceful!
So, what can we do about that? How can we experience more feelings of peace during the Christmas holidays?
When we make our own self-care a priority that helps us handle all of the relationships and responsibilities in our lives with more grace, ease and joy. This in turn helps the people in our lives to also experience more happiness, grace and peace. And so on...and so on...and so on. (If you're of a certain age please pardon the shampoo commercial reference.)
As the Christmas season begins, I invite you to choose an easy-to-do, soul-satisfying, peace-inducing creative challenge of your own. Here are a few ideas to help you begin...
~ Join me for the #100HappyDays challenge
~ Choose one thing you're grateful for each day in December and
write it in your journal, post it on Facebook or simply keep it in your heart
~ Ask yourself "What's one easy way I can help myself feel peaceful today?"
(*Hint ~ it could be as simple as taking a few nice deep breaths.)
~ Enjoy 5 minutes of "I Get To" creative time
(Easy ideas: doodling, coloring in a mandala, writing a haiku, stringing popcorn & cranberries)
I wish you many peaceful moments and a season filled with lots of love, laughter and light ~ especially the kind that makes your heart shine like a big ol' peace sign!
All the best from my Creative Oasis to yours,
Jill
Jill Allison Bryan
www.creativeoasiscoaching.com
P.S. ~ When I began playing with words to add to my peace sign photo for this post, I was delighted to realize that the "earth and heart" are anagrams. This felt like a special heemeesheemee to me. (*Heemeesheemee ~ my word for a serendipitous occurrence.)
