This morning I woke up with a feeling of grief, a mourning for Christmas past. After a deep sigh I thought about recent advice from a mentor. I would permit myself 10 minutes to feel this sadness, to pout and complain, then take a deep breath and move on with my day. Surprisingly, this time did more for me than just allow sadness. It allowed me to meditate on what I once had and to appreciate what life has to offer me today.You see, like so many of us, I grew up with a tradition centered around the annual holiday meal. I remember the smell of frost in the air as we packed up the car with presents on Christmas eve, heading to Grandma's house filled with cousins, aunts and uncles, and warm, fuzzy feelings. Frank Sinatra's Christmas tunes echoed on the record player and us children surrounded the tree, touching and shaking each present for any clue that might give away the secret gift wrapped up inside.
