Well Halloween is over and now we have the way-too-soon Christmas season upon us. If you are like most of us it’s, well, way too soon. I always think of November as my contemplative month. I do a lot of soul-searching and review the past year and plan for the winter, the holidays and the coming new year. I have even participated in the naNoWriMo, the national novel writing month. (Though you’d think for writers they’d come up with a more catchy moniker!) Where I wrote a book in a month! That was pretty exciting and very cathartic too. I think that cathartic is probably the best descriptive word for my November. Try to take this pre-winter month to take stock of your life, your spirituality, your home, and most importantly; your relationships. Spend some time writing down both what you have and what you want out of your relationships, whether they are with your family, your friends, your significant other or even your pets. I know that may sound silly but even your pets are emotional creatures and maybe you can even improve your relationship with them. Are you spending enough…no don’t worry I won’t say ‘quality time” that was so over-used in the 80’s I’m STILL sick of it! But let’s say ‘relationship building time’ with the people who are important to you? Often in our more serious relationships we lose the fun and spontaneity that first brought us together. We take people for granted; we assume that if they loved us once they will love us forever. I find in the hustle, bustle and worry of life, some of that fresh and fun personality erodes and with it our special relationships erode too.
Even when looking for a new love, be sure to really be true to them by being your real self. Often it is easy to glamorize or embellish our lives on social media. Soon we become a series of ‘wishful thinkings’ instead of an actual real person, with flaws and quirks, which when you think about it, is what makes us most charming. Resist the urge to create yourself online and really assess who you are, what you love about yourself and what you’d like to change.
“To thine own self be true” I think after my many Novembers of contemplation, I finally understand what that truly means. Good advice. Take this November and discover something wonderful; YOU!