selfcare – Success Strategies

10 Uplifting Ways to Embrace the Christmas Spirit

The Christmas Spirit is a feeling of joy, generosity, kindness, and goodwill toward others often evoked by holiday traditions like decorating, gift-giving, music and spending time with loved ones. It’s also associated with fostering a festive, charitable, and warm atmosphere, often seen in acts of service and connecting with family, friends and even strangers during the winter season. (wikiHow)

Depending on how your year has been, you may have come into contact with individuals who complain of not experiencing that Christmas feeling. It is that spirit associated with past customs. Many force themselves into that feeling or pretend to get into the Christmas spirit. Some don’t bother and succumb to being depressed after suffering the loss of a loved one, familiar surroundings, or even a job.

Here are some uplifting, practical, and non-financial ways to help you or a colleague, get into the Christmas spirit. The season may feel heavy, disappointing, or overwhelming. So let’s see what we can do to overcome that feeling.

Ways to Get into the Christmas Spirit (Even When Life Feels Heavy)

1. Create a Simple “Good Moments” Ritual

Even during a difficult season, one meaningful moment a day can shift your emotions. These cost nothing yet helps your mind anchor in peace.

Light a candle at sunset
Make a cup of peppermint tea
Play one Christmas song you love
Sit quietly for 3 minutes and breathe

2. Revisit a Favorite Memory

Nostalgia is scientifically calming. Take 5 minutes to try these simple tips which will reconnect you to joy without requiring money or big plans.

Write down your favorite Christmas memory
Look at an old holiday photo
Re-watch a childhood Christmas movie clip
Make a dish that reminds you of home

3. Serve or Encourage Someone

When life feels disappointing, purpose restores hope. Here are some non-financial ways to give back. Remember, helping someone else elevates your own spirit.

Call someone you haven’t spoken to in a while
Write a handwritten encouragement note
Volunteer for 1 hour at a community event
Help a neighbor carry groceries or decorate
Read a Christmas story to a child or senior

4. Declutter One Small Space

A clearer environment creates emotional room for joy. Try any of these which will give you a sense of renewal going into the new year.

Cleaning one drawer
Tidying your desk
Freshening your bedroom with a sheet change
Hanging a single string of lights or placing one ornament in a meaningful spot

5. Start a Personal Christmas Gratitude List

Write down 12 things you are grateful for this year, even if they are small. Focus areas could be:

Growth
Lessons Learned
People who supported you
Unexpected blessings

6. Create a New Tradition (Simple or Free)

Traditions don’t need to be expensive. New traditions can help you reclaim the season in a way that fits your life now. For example, my own tradition started with hosting Christmas morning breakfast with family and close friends. That way, family members were available for evening dinner with the in-laws. We exchange gifts and more. As the kids grew, budget became an issue (hint – teenagers). We then adopted a young adult gift exchange as is done in corporate jobs.

Eat by candlelight for the month of December
Go for a night walk or drive to look at neighborhood lights
Read one uplifting quote or scripture each morning
Bake something simple like Christmas cake or banana bread
Host a zoom or phone call “Christmas check-in” with a friend group

7. Limit the Noise and Protect Your Peace

Sometimes, the best way into the Christmas spirit is finding quiet. Give yourself permission to slow down without guilt.

Turn off the news for a day
Unfollow accounts that drain your emotions
Say “no” to events that overwhelm you

8. Play Christmas Music or Ambient Sounds

Music is emotionally powerful. Let sound create the atmosphere.

Free playlists on YouTube
Gospel Christmas songs
Instrumental Christmas Jazz
Nativity meditation music
Fireplace or snowy cabin ambience videos

9. Journal Your Feelings But End With Hope

Disappointment is real. Letting it out helps you move forward. Take a look at these prompts, then end with one hopeful expectation for 2026.

What has been hard for you this season?
What do you need emotionally right now?
Where have you seen God’s hand even in small ways?
What’s one hopeful expectation for 2026?

10. Connect Spiritually

The holidays are the perfect time to reconnect with faith. Spiritual grounding brings meaning beyond the festivities.

Read a daily advent devotional
Join a free online Christmas service
Mediate on peace, hope, joy and renewal
Take a quiet prayer walk

These 10 tips were non-financial ways. With the commercialization of the season, Christmas can attract expenses. Here are a few that comes with financial input.

Buy one symbolic ornament that represents growth
Support a small business with a small purchase
Treat yourself to a cozy candle
Gift a coaching session or buy a session for someone in transition
Attend a low-cost community concert or holiday market

Essentially, getting into the Christmas spirit is not about perfection, money, or big celebrations. It’s about small, intentional choices that bring warmth, connection and hope back into your day.

Here’s hoping these tips will help boost your spirit this holiday. Now it’s your turn. Are there annual customs that you would like to add? Is any missing that you plan to implement as a new tradition? Please share. We would love to hear!

Cheers and Happy Holidays!

5-Day Road Trip Plan To Captiva Island

Wander. Get lost on an intriguing Road Trip. Discover the new.
~Dr Shelly

Stone building designer Chrissy dreamt of getting away. She was exhausted. We connected. She was open to whatever plan I could come up with. It was awhile since she took a work break. Quickly I planned a getaway to Captiva Island, Florida. Here I share.

5-Day Getaway Plan

Day 1:
Road trip to Captiva
Lunch at Wicked Wings, a low-keyed hole in the wall pub that satisfies starving travelers before hitting the road to their final destination

Day 2:
Relax in the Sun, Sand, Sea engulfed in a delightful adventure riding the waves

Day 3:
Spa Day – Body massage, Facial, Mani and Pedi, a sure rejuvenation for the exhausted

Day 4
Shopping and Late dinner at the Harbor Side Bar and Grill

Day 5
Early morning beach wet. Late breakfast followed by reluctant afternoon drive back to the fast life.

Where’s your favorite getaway space? Do share. We would love to hear!

Cheers!

Footprints By The Waves

Your footprints are a reflection of the journey you’ve taken.

Lazily I walked the length of the beach then did a 180 degree turn to saunter back. That’s when I noticed a trail of my own footprints. It reminded me of the path I had taken to relax, unwind and bask in some well-needed solo selfcare.

After a day filled with the excitement of a crazed movie, followed by sweet, chilli peppered spice delicious meal, the plan was to close my day lying on the beach at sunset wave watching. But the weather had a different vibe In mind.

It was September and I should have known. It’s stormy season. Funny enough it didn’t spoil things for me. Watching the waves as they splashed against the sand is totally my thing. I watched in the distance as beach goers sauntered away as the clouds darkened and and light rain began.

My footprints disappeared as the waves seem to say don’t mess up our sand. No signs of nature’s little birds that always keep my company. I think they’re smarter than me. As the clouds formed, and the thunder beckoned in the distant, they flew away preparing for the evening’s wave.

But I’ll stay as the sun prepared to set early against the clouds. Perfect time for the evenings prayer for little 11-year old Senae. May the lord provide answers to her medical team and provide that breakthrough to find whatever ails her tiny frame.

We welcome you holy spirit as the waves wash away the plights of the sick and provide the healing as only God can.

15 Things To Do By Yourself…

Success Strategies

Spending time alone is one of my absolute pleasures. I’m sure I’m not alone. You may also like to do that as well. A few years ago I shared that I had some planning to do and decided on a whim to jump into my car and drive to the beach. A few hours later, I had mapped out plans for my top goals for the rest of the year! yea! I left feeling totally satisfied to get things done! What seemed like an drilling exercise turned out to be quite productive, in a serene atmosphere.

Self-Care

Jo Chunyan shared a list of things do alone. I decided to pull my top 15 to share.

Journal. Write up a list of things you would love to do. Declare your dreams and intentions or simply empty out all your thoughts into your notebook.
Spend a day at a museum or art gallery

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What Advice Would You Give To Your Younger Self? 17 Professionals Share…

Don’t get so caught up in the difficulties of the moment since they are only temporary

Kowalski

Success Strategies

If you could give advice to your younger self, what would it be?

Life changes. We evolve, make decisions, choose careers, relationships, and enlarge our own space to embrace and create our own circle of influence including nuclear families. Recently I came across the common question about life and pondering the changes you would have made if you had the chance to advise your younger self. In deep thought I decided to ask professionals what their thoughts were. Most reflected. Here are excerpts of those who quickly chimed in:

Stop and smell the roses. Life passes by in a flash. Children grow up. Relationships mature, evolve, change. Enjoy life. Appreciate the little things.
Take more adventures. Let go of traditions.
Enjoy life more along my journey. To be fearless and take more risks.
Slow down, travel, start a business, invest, read more.
Things don’t need to be perfect or need the…

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Where’s Your Dream Travel Destination?

Success Strategies

Paris, Santorini, Dubai tops the list!

Where do you wish to travel in the next 1-3 years? Which destination tops your list? Do you dream of traveling to enjoy the culture of others near or far? Traveling to learn about other people in distant lands?

Like Cavity, in the movie Eat. Pray. Love; Julia Roberts Imagination ran wild when she decided to get away to (as it were) find herself. Well she was not alone. The question was asked where’s your dream travel location? A few said “All over the world”, but while we Sympathize, that doesn’t count. Goals must be specific to be achieved. Here I share excerpts as the masses chimed in:

Destinations

Bora, Bora
Rome
New Zealand
Santorini
Paris
British Colombia, Canada
Maldives, Santorini, Rio, Bali
Greece, Spain, Italy
San Francisco
Washington
New York
LA
Egypt
Greece, Dubai, Hawaii, Brazil, Paris
Mecca
Cuba
Shiraz, Iran

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Plan A Solo Day…

If you never go, you will never know
Unknown

Plan a Solo Day. Yep, a Getaway all by yourself. Unaccompanied. But be very careful though, you may become a solo convert.

A Solo Getaway can be used for well needed Relaxation. A Writers retreat. To reflect on a major decision; to Plan or Strategize a Career Move or Entrepreneurship venture

So what are you waiting for? Go do it!

What’s your favorite getaway? Do share. We would love to hear.

Cheers!

A Late January Evening By The Seashore…

By the sea I couldn’t wait to be. To sit causally on the sand. Me, towel, book and birds all in one as the mighty waves thundered and splashed against the seashore. The weather forecasted it would be the coldest day of the season. Disappointment soared at the spoilt prospect yet still I was determined to chill (literally).

I sat still gazing in the distance. Cold yet relaxed. It was as if there was not a care in the world. I watched the little bird hunt its food fighting against the rushing waves as it eroded the shore. “Give up,” I shouted. But it didn’t as it tried again and again to grab another peck, and another peck. It’s little body was no match for the cold windy weather, but it was yet to give up.

That Smile

That smile… my smile, as usual with it’s pleasantries drew in passersby. Many waved hello and flashed smiles in turn. Then along came an aged one. She spilt her life story in 20 long minutes. Deflecting, I was pleased to have been there to allow her tales of melancholy. A journey of sickness, travel and friendships throughout the years. Amidst her quiet tears and outstretched arms, a flash hug ensued (but alas what of Covid?!) she eventually walked on.

As the sun set, what more could I ask for? A late January evening of peace and quiet. Distant laughter reigned from sultry beach lovers against the sounds as the mighty sunset waves splashed!

Do it again I mused. Tis pure bliss of memories made in tow.

2022 Travel Dreams? 7 Best In The World Road-Trips…

Workaholic. Yep, that’s me. It’s strange that I am dreaming of a getaway so early in the New Year. But guess what? It’s actually carried forward from prior years. Been dreaming of my favorite getaway space but haven’t had a chance to take it. So here I go dreaming as I was asked to share a road trip that I would like to take.

Conde Naste shared the best Road Trips in the world. Amidst the pandemic and all, I shook my head against international travel. Too many requirements. Then on a whim, I mused… hey why not? As the saying goes:

If you can dream it, you can do it
Walt Disney

7 Dream Road Trips

So I let my mind wonder to the list which includes several but my top faves are:

Highway 101 Oregon
Namibia’s Desert
Hana Highway Hawaii
Norway
Ireland
Iceland
Tuscany Italy

Tuscany, Italy

Why not Tuscany? This is my favorite place that I dream of. Renowned travel expert Samantha Brown challenged us to plan a trip that we are excited about. So as I perused the list, I selected my dream place-Tuscany, Italy. Ireland comes closely second, but Tuscany is my preferred place. I decided to pull the full details below for ease of access for both myself or any who wish to get the information. If Italy isn’t for you, then other destinations can be gleaned from them here

Tuscany’s bucolic, vineyard-dotted landscape makes for the quintessential Italian road trip. Start in Florence and cruise south on the SS22 for 30 minutes until you reach the heart of the Chianti wine region. Take your time winding through Strada and Greve towards Siena, stopping at cantine along the way (we recommend these ones). Depending on how much time you have, spend the night in Panzano before circling back up to Florence the next day, or head further south to Montalcino, Montepulciano, and the spectacular Val d’Orcia—arguably the most beautiful stretch of countryside in Tuscany.

Where to stop: Ruffino’s sprawling Poggio Casciano estate for truffle hunting and tasting; Antinori nel Chianti Classico for its Instagram-worthy glass-and-steel winery and equally show-stopping wine; Tenuta Il Greppo, where the first Brunello di Montalcino was bottled in 1888.

Where to eat: Officina della Bistecca in Panzano-in-Chianti for the best steak in all of Tuscany; Re di Macchia in Montalcino for its classic, hearty Tuscan cuisine like white bean soup and wild boar pasta.

Where to stay: In castles, always. We like the intimate, art-filled Castello di Ama in Gaiole in Chianti and the lavish, hilltop Castello Banfi il Borgo in Montalcino, which has an infinity pool overlooking the vineyards.

Your Turn

What’s your dream travel designation or road trip for this year? Do share. We would love to hear.

Cheers!

^{Italy Photo by Stan Swinnen on Pexels.com}

Pre-Planning Your Mistakes? 13 Ways To Get Out Of Your Head…

13 Ways To Get Out Of Your Head

You miss 100 percent of the shots you don’t take. ~Wayne Gretzky
Tweet

I heard a TV host who was showing a young lady how to use a piece of equipment which she was actively trying to learn. She went into a what if scenario to which he retorted with the question… “are you pre-planning your mistakes?” She laughed.

It reminded me of how we often act. We think of everything that could go wrong instead of thinking of the things that could go right. What if I go after the entrepreneurship venture and fail? What if I apply to the job and they turn me down? What if I invest in the relationship and it doesn’t work out? What if scenarios play over and over in our head. It gets us nowhere. Get out of your head and take the bull by the horn (so to speak). Here’s a brief list of things you can do to get out of your head.

13 Things To Do To Get Out Of Your Head

Breathe
Pray. Meditate
Exercise. Go for a walk/run
Recite a Mantra. Motivational Quotes and Positive Affirmations work
Recognize the signs of the negative and create an action plan to beat it
Write it down. Get the negative thoughts out of of your head
Focus on your end-goal
Watch an inspiring movie. Laugh. Comedy puts you on your lighter side.
Make a list of inspiring movies, songs, or anything that will help you beat the downward mood trend
Talk it out. Have a trusted friend that you can share your thoughts and insecurities with.
Have an accountability partner who will check in with you continuously about your goal
Let go of negative people, environment or things. Anything that holds you back.
Keep learning. Learn something new. It builds your confidence.

These are just a few of the things you can do when you start to question yourself. Remember life comes with its ups and downs. So it is important to take the time to grow in spite of the things that may try to pull you down. Keep yourself motivated to achieve.

How about you? What do you do to keep yourself motivated when the negative thoughts threaten? Do share. We would love to hear.

Cheers!

Follow me on Instagram for daily motivation

Writing Retreat. Alone Or With A Group?

As a writer you have to have the three D’s: drive, discipline and desire. If you’re missing any one of those three, you can have all the talent in the world, but it’s going to be really hard to get anything done.
Nora Roberts

An author at a Writers forum asked the question whether to attend a writing retreat alone or with a group. Intrigued I dived in. Here are top responses as authors chimed in with their preferences.

A combination. Alone at first to get some writing done, then others can join after to chill
Always with at least one person, Would never travel anywhere alone
Either. Done it
Alone
I like both. But prefer to have a couple of other writers. That way there is someone to talk over plot points and such with.
Would probably accomplish more alone, but a group is nice too
I have done both. You can also go to the location (Tennessee Williams Writers Festival in New Orleans) with non writer friends who will go off sightseeing and leave you blissfully on your own to attend master classes, panel discussions and book signings. But bring your new writer friends with you to dinner so you have something satisfying and intelligent to talk about.
Both could be fun
Alone but towards the end I want to meet up with a friend for dinner
Writing retreats are so fun with a friend, but the point as in writing is not to have fun, but to be productive. Learn, write, make a few new friends after hours but you are there to write.

I think point 10 sums it all up. Writing is indeed fun but the point of writing is to be productive. Personally, I believe writers write alone but after compile the pieces and celebrate together.

As a writer, what’s your preference? Do share. We would love to hear.

Cheers!

Virgo Wellness Reset…

Virgo: Wellness Reset and Holistic Spa in Arizona

We know what matters to you the most Virgo — your health and wellness. How else could you get everything done, you overachiever, you? So take a moment to give yourself the best spa package and fine dining to match with a desert getaway in the heart of Arizona. This world famous resort has an Aqua circuit like no other, with state-of-the-art amenities to boost your body’s ability to heal and overall well-being. Take advantage of the sound healing classes in the evenings to give you the ultimate night’s sleep, and then wake to practice yoga on the lawn. In between, you’ll have the chance for a massage, a reiki session, and a deliciously rejuvenating smoothie by the pool. With gorgeous weather for most of the year, you get the maximum amount of Vitamin D in this sunlit state, so you’ll be sure to feel the lasting results of good health even after you return home.
Travel and Leisure

What’s your sign? Mine is Virgo. Read where you should plan your trip based on your own Zodiac sign

Ways to Get into the Christmas Spirit (Even When Life Feels Heavy)

1. Create a Simple “Good Moments” Ritual

2. Revisit a Favorite Memory

3. Serve or Encourage Someone

4. Declutter One Small Space

5. Start a Personal Christmas Gratitude List

6. Create a New Tradition (Simple or Free)

7. Limit the Noise and Protect Your Peace

8. Play Christmas Music or Ambient Sounds

9. Journal Your Feelings But End With Hope

10. Connect Spiritually

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5-Day Getaway Plan

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Self-Care

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Destinations

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That Smile

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7 Dream Road Trips

Tuscany, Italy

Your Turn

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13 Things To Do To Get Out Of Your Head

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Virgo: Wellness Reset and Holistic Spa in Arizona

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