Comments on: Peace, Love and Joy http://cheerfulmonk.com/2007/12/17/peace-love-and-joy/ Happiness As a Spiritual Practice Tue, 22 May 2012 01:59:41 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: tammy http://cheerfulmonk.com/2007/12/17/peace-love-and-joy/comment-page-1/#comment-17488 tammy Wed, 09 Nov 2011 20:32:23 +0000 http://cheerfulmonk.com/2007/12/17/peace-love-and-joy/#comment-17488 bhb... i always enjoy your comments! i don't think you reveal too much. at least you do it honestly... so refreshing in these "politically correct" days! christmas in this country (and maybe in many others) is very like a sacred cow. if you don't celebrate in the traditional ways, there MUST be something wrong with you! i haven't celebrated in a traditional way in years and yet each christmas i enjoy the twinkly lights (on the streets and in windows) and the music and the corny shows on tv... and i sometimes eat a meal i microwave, or sometimes i just cook up a good pot of beans and eat cornbread. this year will be hard. my sister-in-law just died two months ago, so maybe my brother and i will hopefully spend it together. many losses through the years in my family. it is so small now that the holidays tend to take on "just another day-ness." but that is okay. not complaining at all! much more relaxing and less trauma than most! love and blessings for the coming season to all who have commented here in the past. i am just catching up! bhb… i always enjoy your comments! i don’t think you reveal too much. at least you do it honestly… so refreshing in these “politically correct” days!
christmas in this country (and maybe in many others) is very like a sacred cow. if you don’t celebrate in the traditional ways, there MUST be something wrong with you!
i haven’t celebrated in a traditional way in years and yet each christmas i enjoy the twinkly lights (on the streets and in windows) and the music and the corny shows on tv… and i sometimes eat a meal i microwave, or sometimes i just cook up a good pot of beans and eat cornbread.
this year will be hard. my sister-in-law just died two months ago, so maybe my brother and i will hopefully spend it together. many losses through the years in my family. it is so small now that the holidays tend to take on “just another day-ness.” but that is okay. not complaining at all! much more relaxing and less trauma than most!
love and blessings for the coming season to all who have commented here in the past. i am just catching up!

]]> By: Jean http://cheerfulmonk.com/2007/12/17/peace-love-and-joy/comment-page-1/#comment-444 Jean Thu, 27 Dec 2007 04:50:42 +0000 http://cheerfulmonk.com/2007/12/17/peace-love-and-joy/#comment-444 <strong>Bob</strong>, Thanks for the heart-warming image...I'm smiling as I write this. Christmas certainly is different when you have young children around. My husband and I had a good time, too, but it is different without the little ones. Bob,
Thanks for the heart-warming image…I’m smiling as I write this. Christmas certainly is different when you have young children around. My husband and I had a good time, too, but it is different without the little ones.

]]> By: Bob http://cheerfulmonk.com/2007/12/17/peace-love-and-joy/comment-page-1/#comment-435 Bob Tue, 25 Dec 2007 15:18:17 +0000 http://cheerfulmonk.com/2007/12/17/peace-love-and-joy/#comment-435 It's Christmas morning, and my kids are euphoric. We're all relaxing at the kitchen table, with daddy blogging and them making "cookies" out of their new Play-Doh with a rolling pin and Christmas cookie cutters. Our Christmas has been delightful. Hope yours has been too! It’s Christmas morning, and my kids are euphoric. We’re all relaxing at the kitchen table, with daddy blogging and them making “cookies” out of their new Play-Doh with a rolling pin and Christmas cookie cutters.

Our Christmas has been delightful. Hope yours has been too!

]]> By: Jean http://cheerfulmonk.com/2007/12/17/peace-love-and-joy/comment-page-1/#comment-416 Jean Thu, 20 Dec 2007 06:07:38 +0000 http://cheerfulmonk.com/2007/12/17/peace-love-and-joy/#comment-416 <strong>Al</strong>, I've never had a problem with presents getting discovered. The problem for a while was forgetting about them, buying some new ones and then discovering the old ones months into the new year. I've learned to wrap them with name tags as soon as I buy them, then save them all in one place so I can find them when Christmas comes. ;)   Al,
I’ve never had a problem with presents getting discovered. The problem for a while was forgetting about them, buying some new ones and then discovering the old ones months into the new year. I’ve learned to wrap them with name tags as soon as I buy them, then save them all in one place so I can find them when Christmas comes. ;)
 

]]> By: Jean http://cheerfulmonk.com/2007/12/17/peace-love-and-joy/comment-page-1/#comment-413 Jean Tue, 18 Dec 2007 21:20:57 +0000 http://cheerfulmonk.com/2007/12/17/peace-love-and-joy/#comment-413 <strong>Ellen</strong>, :) I'm glad you liked the picture, too. <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/sis/77105165/" rel="nofollow">Sister72</a> took it December 25, 2005...I wouldn't have thought of it as a Christmas picture, but it's just perfect. How old are your children? It's hard to instill good values when our larger society is trying to turn them into good little consumers to keep the economy going. But as you say, it's also a great opportunity to get in touch with our own values and to teach them. My guess is the best gift you can give them is for you to step back and take some of the contemplation time you need. I came across a site the other day that said the best gift she's trying to give her children is the experience of stillness. What a wise, but revolutionary, idea. When my daughter was little she shared in buying and wrapping presents for her cousins and grandparents. In late October we would put on Christmas carols and she would decorate tissue paper with Christmas stencils and colored markers. We used that for the wrapping paper. Then we sent them off around the end of November and ignored Christmas as much as possible except for going up in the mountains as a family and cutting down our little tree. She always had a stocking from Santa Claus, but from the start the majority of the presents were from loved ones. And most of the presents were practical things like clothes. She received some toys, but one of the biggest presents was always a kit that she and my husband put together. So our focus was on family time. I would love to hear what you're doing. <strong>bikehikebabe</strong>, I wouldn't worry too much about using slang. Mostly we can figure out new words from the context. And if not, we can always ask. The main thing is to keep commenting. :)   Ellen,
:) I’m glad you liked the picture, too. Sister72 took it December 25, 2005…I wouldn’t have thought of it as a Christmas picture, but it’s just perfect.

How old are your children? It’s hard to instill good values when our larger society is trying to turn them into good little consumers to keep the economy going. But as you say, it’s also a great opportunity to get in touch with our own values and to teach them.

My guess is the best gift you can give them is for you to step back and take some of the contemplation time you need. I came across a site the other day that said the best gift she’s trying to give her children is the experience of stillness. What a wise, but revolutionary, idea.

When my daughter was little she shared in buying and wrapping presents for her cousins and grandparents. In late October we would put on Christmas carols and she would decorate tissue paper with Christmas stencils and colored markers. We used that for the wrapping paper. Then we sent them off around the end of November and ignored Christmas as much as possible except for going up in the mountains as a family and cutting down our little tree.

She always had a stocking from Santa Claus, but from the start the majority of the presents were from loved ones. And most of the presents were practical things like clothes. She received some toys, but one of the biggest presents was always a kit that she and my husband put together. So our focus was on family time. I would love to hear what you’re doing.

bikehikebabe,
I wouldn’t worry too much about using slang. Mostly we can figure out new words from the context. And if not, we can always ask. The main thing is to keep commenting. :)
 

]]> By: bikehikebabe http://cheerfulmonk.com/2007/12/17/peace-love-and-joy/comment-page-1/#comment-411 bikehikebabe Tue, 18 Dec 2007 14:35:59 +0000 http://cheerfulmonk.com/2007/12/17/peace-love-and-joy/#comment-411 I was reading my comment back a few people. By filter I meant, you don't write anything that would hurt someone or be offensive. But sometimes I think what I say is too revealing of myself and "off the wall". Ellen (in the Netherlands), that's American slang for crazy (which is also slang). But I'm being honest. I was reading my comment back a few people. By filter I meant, you don’t write anything that would hurt someone or be offensive. But sometimes I think what I say is too revealing of myself and “off the wall”. Ellen (in the Netherlands), that’s American slang for crazy (which is also slang). But I’m being honest.

]]> By: Ellen http://cheerfulmonk.com/2007/12/17/peace-love-and-joy/comment-page-1/#comment-409 Ellen Tue, 18 Dec 2007 08:19:39 +0000 http://cheerfulmonk.com/2007/12/17/peace-love-and-joy/#comment-409 sorry.. I started the previous comment because I wanted to tell how much I adore that lovely picture you posted, and yet, completely forget to mention it (I really don't think I've reached that peaceful state of mind yet ;-))....) thanks!! Wonderful days to you too! sorry.. I started the previous comment because I wanted to tell how much I adore that lovely picture you posted, and yet, completely forget to mention it (I really don’t think I’ve reached that peaceful state of mind yet ;-) )….)
thanks!!
Wonderful days to you too!

]]> By: Ellen http://cheerfulmonk.com/2007/12/17/peace-love-and-joy/comment-page-1/#comment-408 Ellen Tue, 18 Dec 2007 08:15:04 +0000 http://cheerfulmonk.com/2007/12/17/peace-love-and-joy/#comment-408 Hi Jean, thanks! It not that big a deal though, it just makes it a busy month, a month in which I have to watch out for not spoiling my kids... But, at the same time that makes it even more a month of teaching them to give and to share.. And for myself, to be aware of the need to sit back, contemplate, and enjoy. Because, in the end, that's what Christmas to me is all about, to share with loved ones, to cherish what we have, and once again, remember the importance of peace. Peace in our own hearts, and peace in the world! Hi Jean,

thanks! It not that big a deal though, it just makes it a busy month, a month in which I have to watch out for not spoiling my kids… But, at the same time that makes it even more a month of teaching them to give and to share.. And for myself, to be aware of the need to sit back, contemplate, and enjoy.

Because, in the end, that’s what Christmas to me is all about, to share with loved ones, to cherish what we have, and once again, remember the importance of peace. Peace in our own hearts, and peace in the world!

]]> By: Al at 7P http://cheerfulmonk.com/2007/12/17/peace-love-and-joy/comment-page-1/#comment-407 Al at 7P Tue, 18 Dec 2007 07:30:38 +0000 http://cheerfulmonk.com/2007/12/17/peace-love-and-joy/#comment-407 Hi Jean - I buy presents for myself and for my immediate family only. My circle isn't that big, but it's pretty tight. That's a pretty funny story about buying presents so early for your husband you forgot what it was! Must be a little stressful trying to stash away presents for a long time, hoping it won't get discovered. Hi Jean – I buy presents for myself and for my immediate family only. My circle isn’t that big, but it’s pretty tight.

That’s a pretty funny story about buying presents so early for your husband you forgot what it was! Must be a little stressful trying to stash away presents for a long time, hoping it won’t get discovered.

]]> By: Jean http://cheerfulmonk.com/2007/12/17/peace-love-and-joy/comment-page-1/#comment-403 Jean Tue, 18 Dec 2007 04:24:37 +0000 http://cheerfulmonk.com/2007/12/17/peace-love-and-joy/#comment-403 <strong>Al</strong>, How many people do you buy for? When my daughter and her cousins were young I had a lot more shopping to do. I tried to do it over the course of the year and had everything sent off before the end of November. Then December could still be a peaceful time. The one time I remember being stressful in a nice way was when I bought my daughter a watch that I knew she would love. I bought it two months before Christmas and was counting the days until she could open the present. The downside of planning ahead! I still buy and wrap presents early, and sometimes I'm as surprised as my husband at what I bought him. :)   <strong>Ellen</strong>, I agree with you, I think it's healthy for kids to give presents too. My happiest Christmas as a kid was when my sister and I first started giving presents to the adults in our extended family. I still remember some of the things we bought. I sympathize with you on the two traditions you have to deal with. <strong>Adebola</strong>, It will be interesting to see how your Christmas changes now that you have a fiancee. My husband used to work on Thanksgiving and Christmas until my daughter was born. He was doing research in particle physics and it was easy to get accelerator beam time during the holidays. Children make a big difference at Christmas. <strong>bikhikebabe</strong>, Yes, things change a lot when the children grow up and have their own families. Then it's easier to do whatever suits you. <strong>Albert</strong>, I was in Sydney a few weeks before Christmas once, and it did seem strange to see the Christmas tree in the hotel in the middle of summer. I agree that if you don't have a family, just do whatever works for you. Thanks, everyone, for commenting. I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season. Al,
How many people do you buy for? When my daughter and her cousins were young I had a lot more shopping to do. I tried to do it over the course of the year and had everything sent off before the end of November. Then December could still be a peaceful time.

The one time I remember being stressful in a nice way was when I bought my daughter a watch that I knew she would love. I bought it two months before Christmas and was counting the days until she could open the present. The downside of planning ahead!

I still buy and wrap presents early, and sometimes I’m as surprised as my husband at what I bought him. :)
 

Ellen,
I agree with you, I think it’s healthy for kids to give presents too. My happiest Christmas as a kid was when my sister and I first started giving presents to the adults in our extended family. I still remember some of the things we bought.

I sympathize with you on the two traditions you have to deal with.

Adebola,
It will be interesting to see how your Christmas changes now that you have a fiancee. My husband used to work on Thanksgiving and Christmas until my daughter was born. He was doing research in particle physics and it was easy to get accelerator beam time during the holidays. Children make a big difference at Christmas.

bikhikebabe,
Yes, things change a lot when the children grow up and have their own families. Then it’s easier to do whatever suits you.

Albert,
I was in Sydney a few weeks before Christmas once, and it did seem strange to see the Christmas tree in the hotel in the middle of summer. I agree that if you don’t have a family, just do whatever works for you.

Thanks, everyone, for commenting. I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season.

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