Merry days ahead...

It's true. I'm gearing up for our holiday party with students and faculty at my house next week.

One of the great things about being back in grad school, and being surrounded by such mindful people, is that I often get asked:"What is your purpose? What do you want to accomplish?" or "If the rest of the world lived out your wish, what would it look like?"

I think my wish and deepest desire is to help create moments where people really connect with one another, where people experience whatever it means to be fully human. Often I try to create FUN moments. After all, it's the ability to laugh together that also allows us to be vulnerable with one another, to cry with one another or to rejoice with each other.

Case in point, my spiritual leadership class, though we often discussed meaningful subjects, I believe it was our ability to laugh with one another that created a safe space to be vulnerable as we shared our inmost thoughts and dreams.

When I host a party, be it a theme party or just Sunday brunch, I envision those one-on-one connections. I guess I'm a dreamer like John Lennon. I imagine world where we're all living together as one, where we embrace the moments, "livin' for today," because we know that tomorrow is not guaranteed. I suppose that is what mindful meditation is all about: recognizing that this moment is all I have. Now what am I going to do with it? What kinds of relationships can I develop in this moment? What kinds of relationships do I want? What kinds of seeds am I planting in others? I have THIS moment to plant a seed.

And sometimes, I have THIS moment to harvest the seeds I've already planted and cultivated.

Here's hopin' that you are living fully in this moment; that wherever you are, there you ARE! As for me, I'm off to plan next week's party, so that when the time comes, I can fully dedicate myself to getting to know each guest intimately by dreaming together with each one what is in his/her heart to do.

Here's to Martha, the do-er! I can obsess about all the details for the party so that each guest feels warmly welcome and at home. I can line up the food and the prizes and orchestrate the music and activities and decorations.

And here's to Mary, the be-er (NOT beer, though we'll have some of that, too)! I can simply BE at the party with each guest, listening to their hearts, laughing and joking, awarding prizes for the ones who are the most fully "in the moment"; for those who embrace the theme of the tackiest Christmas sweater or holiday outfit!

After all these years of hosting parties, I've found that those who put the most into the theme (costume, etc), have the most fun and get the most out of the moment! No embarrassment! We're all fools together! Ask my friend, Charlie Beal. I think he has won BEST costume at every party I've ever hosted (from Disco Stu at the 70's Disco bash to a knight in shining armor at the medieval, madrigal mascarade to a turbaned Sultan at the 1001 Arabian Nights party).

Charlie LIVES the theme: whatever you put into the moment is what you get! Here's hopin' that you put yourself, all your energies, all your attention, all of YOU into the moments. Carpe diem! Seize the day! If you do, I can guarantee ALL your days will be merry and bright!