December - You are the greatest gift


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December Mantra - You are the greatest gift

"If you love someone, the greatest gift you can give them is your presence."

- Thich Nhat Hanh

December is a month where many of us are scrambling around for gifts. But what if the best gift you could give was you. Your time, your light, your presence.

Look I like a good present as much as anyone, but the most precious thing - the gift I remember long after the tree is thrown on the front lawn - are the moments spent with those I love. In front of the tree, watching my favorite holiday movie (Die Hard of course), and eating together as a family.

And while you are taking care of everyone else this season, remember you are your own greatest gift. So put some self-care on your list. Take a walk, or a bath, or read (please insert your own self-care go-to here). Taking good care of ourselves ensures that when we bring our greatest gift to others, we are the best version we can be in that moment.

Hope this helps.

Wishing you a wonderful holiday season.

Namaste.

Donna

Inspiration

Only when we face our fears can we discover the freedom to love without holding back. Tara Brach guides us on this important journey to love.

This month's favorite memes

Coming January 1!

Book Launch January 1 at 1 PM ET

Starting January 1st We've Got To Stop Meeting Like This - A Memoir of Missed Connections will be available in print, ebook and audiobook at all major retailers. To pre-order a signed copy with bookmark visit minichangeyoga.com.

As the book begins on New Year's Day we are celebrating the launch with a Zoom party on January 1st at 1 PM ET. The information for the event is below:

Meeting ID: 856-5601-2812

Password: 252063

Hope you will join us!

What to Watch

Have you seen True Story on Netflix yet?

In this Netflix drama, Kevin Hart plays Kid, a successful standup comedian who returns to his native Philadelphia for the first part of his comedy tour.

While there, he spends time with his older brother Carlton (Wesley Snipes), a questionable type who has been mooching off Kid for years.

A series of unfortunate events occur, forcing Kid and Carlton to spend a lot of time together to make things right.

Theater Corner

Beloved composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim died late last month. Some of his best-known plays include West Side Story, Into the Woods, Company and Sunday in the Park with George. To read more about his impact on my life click the button below:

There's A Place For Us Stephen Sondheim

December 20 at 7 PM ET

Workshop - Managing Grief / Loss at the Holidays

The holidays can be a joyful time, but some days are shadowed with grief for those we've lost. The purpose of this workshop is to share tools to help when grief waves descend - and to connect with others going through similar experiences. We will meet via Zoom and the workshop is offered at no cost. Meeting details below:

Meeting ID: 832 7606 5058

Passcode: 12800

A Little Holiday Cheer From West Chester, PA

What I'm Reading

A Star Is Bored by Byron Lane tells the story of a celebrity assistant and is written by the former assistant to Carrie Fisher. The story is both funny and poignant, and a wonderful diversion for the holidays. Highly recommend.

We've Got To Stop Meeting This Way - A Memoir of Missed Connections by Donna Ferris (sorry - reading this a lot this month to get it ready for publication). What if the path to inner peace leads to outright disaster? Donna has it all - a generous husband, two healthy kids, a Jersey shore home - but believes something is missing. When she signs up for yoga teacher training, her carefully cultivated life begins to crumble. Her husband is having an affair. Dangerous childhood secrets resurface. Her mother dies suddenly. And she doesn’t even like yoga . . . yet.

A devastating but funny, life-affirming love story, We’ve Got to Stop Meeting Like This is for anyone who has ever dared to fight for what matters - and believes it’s never too late to find love or enlightenment. But not necessarily in that order.

Felicity by Mary Oliver is a stash of Mary Oliver's love poems interspersed with Rumi quotes. My husband gifted it to me on our wedding day. It is the perfect gift for someone you love - including yourself.

Need a gift idea?

Still need a gift for that special someone? Vinyasa yoga is a relaxing all-level flow class that begins with a brief meet and greet where students can share their feelings and needs. The resulting practice centers around the students and a theme chosen based on the season, poetry and/or yoga philosophy. Gift packages can be purchased at minichangeyoga.com. Classes are held every Wednesday at 6:30 PM ET and Saturday at 8:00 AM ET via Zoom. Email Donna at donnayferris@minichangeyoga.com to learn more.

Yoga Flow for Shoulders

Around the holidays it can feel like we have so much on our plate, which can settle in as shoulder tension or pain in our bodies. This four-minute yoga flow is focused on releasing tight shoulders and creating a peaceful moment of self-care for your day.

That's All For This Month

Hope this content has been helpful. Please reach out with any book, podcast, or video recommendations. Or just to say hi! And to subscribe to this newsletter please email donnayferris@minichangeyoga.com

With that, let's close with the Metta meditation:

May we all be happy, May we all be healthy, May we all be safe, May we ride the waves of our lives with peace

Namaste, Donna

(Look for my daily inspirational posts on Facebook and Instagram @downdogdiva and Twitter @minidva)

Donna Ferris

511 North Walnut Street, west chester
PA 19380 United States

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