What are YOU Bringing for Dinner?

It's a time of year that people either love or dread, filled with holiday sweets, treats and family and work functions galore. I'm often asked what I bring to holiday gatherings (be it family, friends or work) because there's a lot of pressure to conform during parties and just 'go with the flow' of food, drink and company. I often create a tasty dish or two a tad richer than I might make at home, but still retaining it's delicious healthy goodness that won't flip out my stomach. However, there is something that I bring that trumps any dish, no matter how well crafted and cooked.... my attitude and intention.

You might be wondering what I mean by 'attitude and intention'. Last year, before a big family Christmas eve party, I spoke with my homeopath about my anxiety in regards to seeing relatives. I'm sure many can relate...Aunt X wants to treat you like you're 5, Grandma Y wants to know all sorts of details that you don't care to share, Uncle Z is difficult and finds fault with everything, etc, etc. I found holiday parties very draining after a certain point and would dread going. After 20 minutes of our discussion, it became clear to me that I was anticipating all of this negative activity and reacting to it before it even happened. So, in essence, I was bringing frustration, dread, anxiety, and distrust with me to the party without even realizing it.

Changing course, I spent some time reflecting on the people there and what I could appreciate about their presence at the party. And then I decided to bring love and lightness with me. I must say, I had the best Christmas ever. I enjoyed every conversation, every laugh, every moment with relatives and friends, every bite of food (whether it was good for me or not)... I enjoyed and cherished the moment of approaching everyone from a place of loving at least some part of them as well as being light in humor and spirit.

Yes, bring a dish or two that you can enjoy and eat knowing what it's made of, but also think about what type of energy you're carrying around with you this season. Perhaps others may sense that and react to you according. This practice is about bringing peace with you. The negative emotions generate stress in the body and mind. More stress translates to poor decisions because you may probably use food and drink as a way to escape the anxiety and boredom of your family, friends and/or co-workers. So start the season, party and/or dinner off on a better foot this year by bringing new meaning to "Goodwill toward men" and "Peace on Earth". Those ideas start within us.