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Let us celebrate the occasion with wine and sweet words.

CONTINUING THIS WEEK ON HOW CELEBRATING EACH DAY IS GOOD FOR OUR HEALTH? PLUS, THE BOOK TEN-MINUTE RELAXATION FOR MIND AND BODY.

Hello Followers,

It is the weekend.

Yay!

Dan and I are getting excited for this will be the first year with a fireplace.

Yes, we are renting an apartment with a fireplace.

For the past several years we have been putting the fireplace that is on YouTube or on one of the cable channels, but this year it will be real.

So, this leads into a tradition, Yule Log.

Yule logs were part of ancient winter solstice celebrations, but it was Americans who turned the wood burning into must-see TV.

Back in 1966, WPIX-TV in New York City aired a continuous 17-second loop of a fireplace for three hours along with holiday music.

That led to an eventual better production and nearly 20 years of annual viewing.

Today, you can view the yule log on demand and on the web.

As we continue to celebrate this holiday season, Dan and I are starting a new series; HOW CELEBRATING EACH DAY IS GOOD FOR OUR HEALTH?

Some view celebration as soft or slacking off, like we are not really doing anything.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

Celebration is a pivotal stage in the productivity process because it allows us to commemorate all the good that we do.

Unlike Indigenous cultures, in the western world, we have forgotten many of our traditions, ceremonies and celebrations especially around the work that we do.

In the name of progress, our culture has lessened rejoicing over everyday occurrences like sunrises and important seasonal events like harvest time.

We need to remember that when the crops are safely in, it is time to dance and make merry.

Gratitude is the causative energy of appreciation that blesses us with ease and greater flow.

Celebration is self-acknowledgment and recognition for successfully completing every small step.

DECEMBER 17th, Dan, and I thought on continuing this segment with the series with some fun; What is it about December that is so significant during this month?

National Maple Syrup Day – December 17, 2022

This viscous yet delicious condiment that is just as versatile as it is tasty; people enjoy it drizzled over everything, from pancakes, to eggs, to salads, to barbecue, this sugary substance has more potential than some give it credit for.

Today, pour away!

The origins of the production of maple syrup can be traced back thousands of years to the northeastern region of the United States.

There, it was first gleaned from the abundant maple tree population by Indigenous peoples.

While it is uncertain as to how and why exactly the extraction process first began, it is inarguable that maple sap became a key ingredient in a variety of dishes.

The arrival of European colonists would allow for the introduction of maple syrup to the Old World, and their love for the taste of the arboreal byproduct was matched by their appreciation for its utility.

It was a popular substitute for cane sugar, as this had to be imported from the West Indies region, and its ability to exist in both liquid and crystallized form made it an ideal source for concentrated sugar.

The colonists’ extraction methods differed from those of the Indigenous peoples, and they would serve as the foundation for several subsequent iterations upon the process.

Some maple trees may have even seen dozens of changes to the extraction procedures used upon them, as they can continue to be tapped for sap for more than one hundred years!

Today, the consumption of maple syrup is no longer reserved for chieftains or special celebratory events.

It is not only used across the world, but production chains have even sprung up in countries like Japan and South Korea.

Canada now produces the vast majority of the world’s maple syrup supply with its total exports valued at more than $270 million.

It may have happened at the rate of molasses, but maple syrup is now known (and loved) far beyond the pocket of the northeast.

Time is precious and is priceless, so Dan and I will continue each day to pull from a box of 365 inspirational quotes, one quote and share with you.

Today is:

IF YOU DESIRE HAPPINESS, YOU SHOULD SEEK THE CAUSES THAT GIVE RISE TO IT, YOU SHOULD SEEK THE CAUSES THAT GIVE RISE TO IT.

Today Dan and I will be continuing the book, Ten-Minute Relaxation, For Mind and Body by Jennie Harding.

Whenever you are feeling under pressure, ten minutes is all you need to relax totally, using tools that are always with you; your senses.

This book is packed full of wonderfully simple ideas and exercises for using sight, taste, smell, hearing, and touch and that vital sixth sense of intuition to rebalance your energies and bring you back into harmony with the natural world around you.

Identify your favorite sensory relaxation solutions and combat that stress!

https://www.amazon.com/Ten-Minute-Relaxation-mind-Body/dp/B000EJZZ6G/ref=monarch_sidesheet

Per Dan and my experience this is another component in keeping ourselves healthy, meditation.

By using your five senses, you can learn to relax in just ten minutes.

CHAPTER 2; THE SENSORY JOURNEY; TOUCH

TOUCH THE ESSENCE OF CARE-

SWITCHING ON THE SENSE

Today, NECK AND SHOULDER RELIEF

The neck and shoulder are classic stress points.

Sitting crouched over work or in a stiff position in the car while driving, holding the phone under your ear, carrying heavy bags on one side of the body; these are all things that over time cause muscles in the neck and shoulders to became hard and painful – spasm.

If nothing is done, in addition to pain there may be knock on effects like migraines.