The Know Insider Weblog

Christmas shopping can stress even the most mild mannered people, the long queues, the cold weather and sheer number of gifts that need to be chosen, bought and wrapped can take the fun out of the festive season which is a shame so here are some few quick tips to make it just a little bit easier to buy gifts for your work colleagues.

Start by making a list. Make sure you include any gift ideas you already have into this and expand on it as much as possible. Consider getting personalised gifts for everyone, and look into ways to do his without involving too much extra expense or organistion. There are dozens of websites offering personalised gifts including calendars, mouse mats and even iPods!

If you have colleagues which you know have hobbies such as golfing or gardening or are interested in the theatre, movies or sports fans, then you’re halfway there. You don’t have to spend a fortune but you can consider themed gifts. Personalised golf balls for the golf enthusiast, a clapperboard for the movie fan or go the whole hog and buy tickets to the theatre - for two if you want to be invited along too.

Once you have your list ready go online, hit the search engines and find those gifts, don’t get distracted remember you are on a mission. Some stores will even wrap and deliver these for you, saving you the hassle.
If you’re doing your christmas shopping the old-fashioned way, braving the traffic and the crowds you’re going to need your list with you or you’ll end up back at home with an empty shopping bag or a mixed bag of gift purchases! When you find something suitable consider buying similar but not identical presents for several people from the same store.

Consider giving store gift cards which are easy to buy online and in store and come in a variety of designs and best of all they serve as both a Christmas card and present at the same time - job done.

Of course if your office runs a Secret Santa none of this advice will help much but choosing a gift for a secret santa is the subject of the seperate article!

As I sit here alone at the end of my day, the house is quiet and dark, lit only by the twinkling lights of the Christmas tree and the glare of the laptop’s display panel. A sparse dusting of snow has fallen and the mercury will likely plunge to icy-cold depths tonight.

My workday was hectic as usual and I opted to forgo lunch in order to escape the office early for some errand running. Little did I know those errands would prompt such a conundrum of thoughts in my overactive, ever-churning brain.

Drained by the day’s frenzy, yet wound tighter than a rubber band perched for launch, I was more than ready to switch gears when I hit the road shortly after 3:30. With holiday music playing on the radio and a light powdery snow falling gently from above, I thought about the fact that Christmas is just one week away.

With each year, time passes more quickly. The month between Thanksgiving and Christmas is gone in the blink of an eye; holiday preparations are rushed, and it seems as though there is less and less time to actually soak up the spirit of the season.

This year, I made a conscious decision to simplify. Rather than putting up two trees, I did one. Instead of dragging out every single Christmas decoration from the many I have collected over the years, I pulled out only those that struck me as most cherished the day I set to the task of “decking the halls.” As for baking, I decided there would be no rushing to squeeze in all the hours it takes to make a dozen different kinds of cookies. Instead, I opted for two traditional favorites - Aunt Flora’s pizzelles and my soft cutout sugar cookies. It just wouldn’t be Christmas without those. Even the process of shopping for gifts was simplified as much as possible through use of the internet.

My deliberate attempt at holiday simplification was definitely a tradeoff. Sure, I find myself missing some of those extra decorations and lights that are still tucked away in their boxes, and I would love to have my usual extensive assortment of homemade cookies with which to adorn holiday trays. But, at some point, something has to give.

This year, I actually enjoyed the 4 hours or so that it took to lovingly press each of those pizzelle cookies. I wasn’t nearly as rushed as in past years, so I was able to relish the warmth emanating from the iron and the scent of anise seed and sweet pizzelle dough as it wafted through the air.

Since I’d pared down my decorations, I took my time trimming the tree. I sat for hours sorting through ornaments - taking time to place them just perfectly and think about the history and fond memories each special ornament holds.

This past weekend, we even took a ride to look at Christmas lights, something we hadn’t done in years. And, over the past couple of weeks, I’ve tried to spend some quiet time now and then in the evening, just enjoying holiday music and the magic of our very special tree.

Even with all of this, I feel as though the holiday season is passing me by. The evenings are short and the weekends even shorter.

It all makes me wonder about life and the ridiculous pace at which we run.

In the past two days, I have witnessed three drivers blatantly run red lights. I’m not referring to sneaking through as yellow turned to red, but rather RUNNING the full-fledged-red light at a dangerous rate of speed. Fortunately, in all three instances, other drivers were alert and disaster was averted.

Are people in that big of a big hurry? Has the holiday rush made everyone kick up their pace yet another notch? Or are people just so consumed by their ever-growing to do lists that they have become oblivious to their surroundings? How much is too much?

Twice in the past week, I have been in stores and seen people rifling through racks while carrying on lengthy, rather loud, cell phone conversations. I am one who has always defended appropriate use of cell phones. Mine is a great convenience to me; however, I find it hard to believe that anyone has a 30-minute conversation that is so pressing it must be carried out in public for the entire world to hear. Can’t these things wait?

What is happening to our society?

Based on life as we know it today, I truly fear for where we will be in 10 or 20 years if this pattern continues.

Priorities have become a tangled up mess, and for too many people, the things that bring true happiness are nowhere near the top of the list. There is certainly no time for dreams or setting truly fulfilling personal goals.

People displaying road rage as they make their way from one pre-holiday sale to the next - where will it end?

The next time you’re waiting in line in a store or sitting in traffic, take time to observe those around you. How many people are on cell phones? Compare the number of friendly faces you see with the number of scowls. How many instances of road rage do you witness in a week? And, how many of the people you pass by in a day look as if they are stressed to wit’s end?

So many people just living day to day, minute to minute - not even LIVING, but merely existing. From the moment the alarm sounds at dawn, until their weary heads hit the pillows in the wee hours, people are just going through the motions. Crossing things off the to-do list, paying the bills if just barely, scurrying to meet unrealistic deadlines and goals dictated by others, running hither and thither never really accomplishing anything of great significance.

This year, before it’s too late, I challenge you to slow down and catch the holiday spirit. Don’t let it go - grab it. Enjoy the simple things. Don’t let the intense commercialism fool you; Christmas isn’t about the material things. Without hesitation, I would trade it all for simpler times and a more serene world.

In the words of John Lennon, life is what happens while you’re busy making other plans.

Each of us only gets one life; make the best of everyday…do what makes you happy; make a difference in the lives of those you love and those you may not even know.

And, Happy Holidays. Now, go catch the spirit - before it’s too late.

Ann Napoletan is the single mother of a wonderful 20-year old daughter, two loving cats, and an adorably mischievous Yorkshire Terrier. She spends her days in the world of Corporate Finance, yearning for spare moments to dedicate to her true passion - the written word.

There are numerous angels listed in both oral and written tradition. The four most commonly known are the archangels. According to Jewish tradition, the four archangels are Michael, Gabriel, Uriel, and Raphael. Each angel is assigned duties to which no other attends, yet as one studies the various angels, one can find contradictions to this principle.
The duty of Michael is thought to be that of a messenger of God, that of Gabriel to represent the strength of God, Uriel represents the light of God, and Raphael represents the healing power of God.

The purpose of this article is to outline a method of meditation that includes the guidance of the four archangels. The process involves finding a quiet place where you will not be disturbed. Sit with your back upright. This allows your energy to flow up the spine. Notice what is going on in your body. Feel your chest rise and fall as the air enters and leaves with each breath. Notice your breathing, and whenever you notice thoughts coming into your mind, reflect again on the experience of your body and your breathing.

Now call upon the four archangels. Ask Michael to be at your right and be open to any messages God has for you. Ask Gabriel to be on your left side. Many mystics believe that evil or death approaches from the left. Imagine Gabriel is there to protect you during your meditation. Ask Uriel to be in front of you to light the way. Ask Raphael to be behind you to support you while you are sitting in meditation. You may also ask him to help heal you of physical or emotional problems you may be experiencing. The four archangels now surround you and protect you during your meditation. At this point, you can imagine a huge cloud of white light overhead, representing the Shekhina. The Shekhina represents the feminine aspect or nature of God. However you wish to think of it, allow this light to descend on you and surround you with love and tender protection. Allow a feeling of peace to enter your mind. You are in a state of infinite security, safety, and kindness.

Pay attention to your breathing. As you inhale, think the word, Yah (pronounced as Ya), and as you exhale, think the word Weh (pronounced Way). This is considered the sacred name of God, and is derived from the tetragammaton (IHVH, JHVH, YHVH or YHWH, which in Hebrew is Yud Hei Vav Hei). It is the Hebrew tribal name of the Supreme Being, which for fear of desecration, the Jews about three centuries before the birth of Christ, ceased to pronounce. They substituted for it the word, Adonai, which means master. The vowel points that were included as directions on how to read it were misinterpreted and gave rise to the Christian form Jehovah. Thinking the word Yah and Weh as you coordinate the syllables with your breathing will not violate the taboo of pronouncing the word out loud.

Meditate on the word for approximately twenty minutes each morning and evening. When you are ready to end the meditation, do not get up abruptly and go about your daily or evening activities. End the meditation in the reverse order of how you began it. Ask the Shekhina to rise again above your head. Thank each of the archangels in the order that you invited them to take their place around you. Let them go about their duties.

You may feel a lasting effect of this meditation throughout your day, and a peaceful night of sleep. If you do this consistently, you should realize great benefits. You may gain insights into your life and inspiration involving problems you wish to solve. Do not approach the meditation with a view to solving a certain problem, however. It is always best to enter each meditation without an agenda. Let happen whatever is supposed to happen. Trust the archangels and the Shekhina to guide and direct your life.

Dr. Conny Young has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology and a Master of Arts degree in Physiology and Biochemistry. He did postgraduate work in Neurophysiology and Phamacology. He worked as a research scientist for a major pharmaceutical company for 17 years before becoming a chiropractor. He attended seminars on Touch for Health, Logan Basic Technique, Bioenergetic Synchronization Technique, Reiki (Level III master), Network Chiropractic, Brimhall 10 Step Protocol and has studied the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), Shiatzu, Kiatzu, and Reflexology. He maintained a private practice for 17 years, and taught Neurophysiology and Toxicology at Palmer College of Chiropractic. He conducted research on the effectiveness of energy balancing for the treatment of migraine headaches. Dr. Young has practiced mantra meditation for 31 years, and studied with the Self Realization Fellowship. He has also studied Hebrew and Kabbalah. He can be reached through his websites at: http://www.healthandwellnesssolutionsonline.com and http://www.sugarcitygifts.com