Dear Friends,

This is a time for rejoicing. For people of many faiths - and for those who ascribe to no particular faith - this is a happy time. Smiles come with the thoughts of presents, happy gatherings, times spent with relatives near and distant, good meals, and recreation of all sorts. And of course there come a few days when we all get time off from work.

Wouldn't it be nice if we could have such days more often? Wouldn't it be nice if we could start a truly new year with cause to celebrate a whole lot more?
Well maybe we just can.

Consider this. The word holiday is a secularization of the original term "holy day." It meant a day with special sacred significance. For many that means at least one day a week. It's a day to worship, to gather with those with whom we share some common values, to tap into a higher consciousness, and then to break bread together and enjoy a meal.

Let's take this further. What if every day could be such a holy day? What if each day you could do something to make a sacred start to a sacred day - something to put a smile on your face when you go out to face your corner of the world?

You would have to start the day in some manner that would help you re-create yourself in that higher consciousness. When you do, you'd live in that place in your heart and mind all day. You would see opportunities to act with kindness and compassion, and chose to create peace, not war, when someone said or did something upsetting or angry.

As a child, I came from a tradition where each child was taught to pray before eating a meal, and then again before going to bed. Over all these years since, I never lost that habit. I feel better each time and I know God is listening. Then, when I became a Sikh some 25 years ago, I moved into a larger tradition where we meditate, pray, sing hymns and read scripture each morning when we arise, and pray also at other times in the day, including before going to bed. Each day is happier for it, and smiles are much easier.

I invite each of you to begin a truly new year by making each day a special day. Start with a meditation and prayer. Talk out your problems to God rather than to your family and friends. No human can really give you answers, and the more you talk out your problems to people the deeper the pits get until no one even pities you. Only the God within you and the Great God can figure out your problems. So let them talk at the start of your day, and then go about your day with a smile and a lighter, higher consciousness. Answers, fresh ideas, and brighter times will come.

Re-create yourself each day as the you your soul came here to be. Be a pioneer of a higher consciousness of compassion and caring, a walking remedy for the grumps, grouches, low self-esteem, and general depression that abounds.

Live as a pioneer, and then smile - for some of us the holidays are always here!

Bless you in all ways always,

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