Rock and Roll Saved My Soul

Why making New Year’s resolutions is a bad way to start the year. Chances are your life doesn’t need a major overhaul. Tiny changes to make you slightly new and improved are probably best. It is natural to use landmarks to evaluate your life. Times like birthdays, New Year’s Day, and transitions like new jobs, divorces, or graduations are all times that lead people to think about what they have accomplished and what they have yet to do. But there is a cultural expectation that at the beginning of each new year, you’ll find something about yourself you want to change and dig in to make that change. Often, you ought to ignore the urge to commit to a big behavior change. The canary in the coal mine for big behavior change is systematic failure. When there is a goal that is really critical to you that you are systematically failing to achieve, that is the signal that you need to do something different if you want to succeed. The significant systematic failures i...

Every New Year’s Eve I spend time reflecting on the year that has passed and my intentions for the upcoming year, because I believe that the more we know ourselves the more we will know … The Divine, Source, Love, Grace, Light and Love. I love to spending this time of year in deep reflection to uncover any awakenings in my awareness that have yet to be revealed, complete the lessons I have learned and set intentions for the year ahead. Personally, I love doing this together with someone who feels incredibly safe where I can be vulnerable and my reflections can be witnessed. You can even turn this into a fun reflection game and cut these questions up from the downloadable PDF and throw them into a hat and each take turns answering them. Reflection Questions For The Past Year: What are you most grateful for about this past year? When did you feel most self expressed in your business and as a leader? What made you feel purposeful this past year? What was the s...

It's the post-Christmas, post-Hanukkah, post-general-stuffing-oneself period, and the new year and the return to work are looming. And, unsurprisingly, one response to this less twinkly and sugary time of the year is a widespread bout of misery — the post-holiday blues, as they're called. Psychologically, it's a mixed bag of crashing after a period of intense emotion and stress, the body recovering from indulgence, adjustment to the return to work, and the easy-to-understand sadness that comes when the good times are over. But getting into the nitty-gritty of our brains as they recover from the ho-ho-hoing can help us drag ourselves through the bleakness of January. When you were a kid — and if you still have a seriously stressful holiday period as an adult, whether it's down to travel, irascible relatives, or lunatic children — the crash is likely at least partially to do with adrenalin comedown. After the stress "rush" of the holidays, where stre...

12-27-19: this week has been pretty good. Little stressful at times but over all really good. Got some good stuff from my man for Xmas. Everyone seemed to enjoy their presents for Xmas as well. We have some things to move around still while we are off work, but we have had kids with colds and last night my youngest hit her head and cut it open a little. She is ok though.  No stiches or Staples thank goodness. My son made me this really cool thing too. I'll have pictures of all the stuff from our house. I did get a little upset about the baby I lost. Seeing as that time of the month starting on Xmas Eve and it just brought back memories. I made it through. I was little grumpy though. Hope everyone else had a great Christmas and had a wonderful new year!!

December 26, 2019: I don't have much to talk about this week. I'm still dealing with this awful cold. Two weeks now. I really feel like I can't catch a damn break. I haven't done much of anything that wasn't completely necessary. It's sucked though, because I haven't been able to rest as much as I need to, but life must go on. If I'm not feeling better by the weekend, I'm definitely going in to see a doctor.  It's been warmer than usual, so that's been good for my nerve pain. Still not eating gluten. It's getting a lot easier to find options. The only hard thing, especially right now during the holidays, is having to say no to all the delicious food at wok. I want to eat it, but I don't want to make myself any sicker than I already am. A lot of people don't know about it. I do feel bad when they offer things, but it's for my own health. So I know I'm doing the right thing. It's still hard though! 

Boxing Day takes place on December 26th and is only celebrated in a few countries; mainly ones historically connected to the UK (such as Canada, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand) and in some European countries. In Germany it is known as "Zweite Feiertag” (which means 'second celebration') and also “Zweiter Weihnachtsfeiertag” which translates as Boxing Day (although it doesn’t literally mean that)! The 26th December is also St. Stephen's Day (or 'the feast of Stephen'). Just to confuse things, there are two St. Stephens in history! The first St. Stephen is believed to have been a very early follower of Jesus and he is said to have been the first Christian Martyr (a person who dies for their religious beliefs). The Bible says that Stephen (who was a Jew) was stoned to death by some other Jews (who didn't believe in Jesus). The second St. Stephen was a Missionary, in Sweden, in the 800s. He loved all animals but particularly horses (perha...

10 Facts About the Winter Solstice, the Shortest Day of the Year 1. THE WINTER SOLSTICE HAPPENS ON DECEMBER 21/22 IN 2019. The date of the winter solstice varies from year to year, and can fall anywhere between December 20 and December 23, with the 21st or 22nd being the most common dates. The reason for this is because the tropical year—the time it takes for the sun to return to the same spot relative to Earth—is different from the calendar year. The next solstice occurring on December 20 will not happen until 2080, and the next December 23 solstice will not occur until 2303. 2. THE WINTER SOLSTICE HAPPENS AT A SPECIFIC, BRIEF MOMENT. Not only does the solstice occur on a specific day, but it also occurs at a specific time of day, corresponding to the instant the North Pole is aimed furthest away from the sun on the 23.5 degree tilt of the Earth's axis. This is also the time when the sun shines directly over the Tropic of Capricorn. In 2019, this moment occurs at...

12-20-19: This week as far as depression goes wasn't too bad. There was some stuff at work that I'm like are you serious? One is that I pre pay for my lunch at work and someone was complaining about that I guess. Stupid nonsense. Trying to get me in trouble and my friend that works there. So over the stupid bs! Then the other thing is the guy that I have had issues with I guess repo's cars and stuff too and told someone he had some to check on at the apartment complex I live at. Like I just can't seem to get away from this guy. For real. Just annoying. We are hoping to be moving soon though. He can't tow mine cause I'm not behind on my payments. I'm just glad week is over. I'm off now for 2 weeks. Time with my family for sure. I'm so excited!!

A Christmas Tree A Short Christmas Story by Charles Dickens I have been looking on, this evening, at a merry company of children assembled round that pretty German toy, a Christmas Tree. The tree was planted in the middle of a great round table, and towered high above their heads. It was brilliantly lighted by a multitude of little tapers; and everywhere sparkled and glittered with bright objects. There were rosy-cheeked dolls, hiding behind the green leaves; and there were real watches (with movable hands, at least, and an endless capacity of being wound up) dangling from innumerable twigs; there were French-polished tables, chairs, bedsteads, wardrobes, eight-day clocks, and various other articles of domestic furniture (wonderfully made, in tin, at Wolverhampton), perched among the boughs, as if in preparation for some fairy housekeeping; there were jolly, broad-faced little men, much more agreeable in appearance than many real men, and no wonder, for their heads took off...

December 16, 2019: And now I have a cold. So that's fun. I'm accomplishing even less than before, but I am trying. But also, a lot of cold pills, cough drops, orange juice, and a cold remedy diffuser running non-stop. I wanted to stay home from work a few days, but that didn't happen. One of the days, someone else had already called in. And the other, I'm the only one there, so there's no one to cover my shift if I don't go in. Kinda sucked, but I made it through. Now I have a few days off to hopefully recuperate.  The cold temperatures are still kicking my ass. I went out on Saturday to do some Christmas stuff. I had on like three layers of clothes to combat the cold and I still had nerve pain from it. I'm officially over winter. Can I hibernate until Spring? Cause I definitely am feeling that right now. 

Christmas Crack! Saltine crackers coated with caramel and chocolate. A salty, crunchy holiday treat. What's not to love? I don’t know if this is called “crack” because of the way it breaks into big, wonderful pieces, because it’s made with crackers, or because it’s so darn addictive. Regardless, I’m a fan. With this classic Christmas treat, Saltine crackers get a double dunking: first in caramel and then in chocolate. Prep time: 10 minutes  Cook time: 15 minutes  Yield: About 35 pieces Feel free to add 1/2 cup of chopped nuts or coconut flakes on top once you’ve poured the melted chocolate. You can use darker chocolate with higher percentages of cacao, but these chocolates sometimes become brittle and separate from the cracker layer. We recommend cooling this candy overnight in the fridge since cooling in the freezer can cause the chocolate layer and the cracker layer to separate when you "crack" the candy. If you need to freeze, let the crackers...

51 Festive Christmas Songs to Get You in the Holiday Spirit 1. White Christmas - Bing Crosby 2. I'll Be Home For Christmas - Bing Crosby 3. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas - Judy Garland 4. The Christmas Song - Nat King Cole  5. Frosty the Snowman - Gene Autry 6. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! - Frank Sinatra 7. Santa Baby - Eartha Kitt 8. Blue Christmas - Elvis Presley 9. Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree - Brenda Lee 10. Sleigh Ride - Johnny Mathis 11. Jingle Bells - Ella Fitzgerald 12. It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year - Andy Williams 13. Christmas, Baby Please Come Home - Darlene Love 14. A Holly Jolly Christmas - Burl Ives 15. Winter Wonderland - Dean Martin 16. Merry Christmas, Baby - Otis Redding 17. Christmastime Is Here Again - The Flirtations 18. Feliz Navidad - Jose Feliciano 19. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus - Jackson 5 20. This Christmas - Donny Hathaway 21. Happy Xmas (War Is Over) - Joh...

The Day of Reconciliation is a public holiday in South Africa held annually on 16 December. The holiday came into effect in 1995 after the end of apartheid, with the intention of fostering reconciliation and national unity for the country. The date was chosen because it was significant to both Afrikaner and African cultures. The government chose a meaningful date for both ethnic groups because they recognize the need for racial harmony. The celebration of the Day of Reconciliation can take the form of remembering past history, recognizing veteran's contributions, marching and other festivities. The origins of the celebration for the Afrikaners goes back to the Day of the Vow, celebrated on 16 December 1864 in commemoration of the Voortrekker victory over the Zulus at the Battle of Blood River. For African people, the date has been significant as one of both peaceful protests against racial injustice and of the founding of the more militant Umkhonto we Sizwe by the African...

Top tips for looking after your mental health at Christmas: 1. Talk about your feelings It's hard to admit that at such an exciting time of year you don't actually feel that great. But talking about your feelings can improve your mood and make it easier to deal with the tough times. It's part of taking charge or 'self managing' your mental well-being and doing what you can to stay healthy. It's important to create space for these conversations and also worth identifying who you can speak to if you are concerned about your well-being. 2. Do something you are good at What do you love doing? What activities can you lose yourself in? Enjoying yourself helps beat stress. As busy as the holiday season gets, try and keep up the activities and hobbies you enjoy all year round. You could turn these into festive activities, like making gifts, cooking mince pies or playing your musical instruments to Christmas songs! 3. Ask for help Donning a Christ...