12. Gratitude for holidays

I’m grateful that a holiday is coming up soon… and I don’t mean a “public” holiday.

What do I mean? First, as always I turned to the definition of "holiday" and this is what I found: leisure time away from work devoted to rest or pleasure; a day on which work is suspended by law or custom; a day assigned to a particular purpose or observance. (Visual Thesaurus)

From this other words were "researched" - 

Devoted: zealous in devotion or affection; devoted to a cause or ideal or purpose. 

Purpose: an anticipated outcome that is intended or guides your planned actions; the quality of being determined to achieve something, firmness of purpose. 

Finally, I researched “holiday” in terms of how the word arrived at “holiday” (etymology) and on most counts the various sources on the internet agree that it is derived from the words “holy day” and in fact is middle “old” English “Halig (Holy) doeg.(Day)” from around 12th Century. It was an obligatory day used for religious observance.

Ok, so where am I going with this? Well today when someone talks about holidays we think annual vacation, long weekend and long stretches of time, however I got to thinking about this and realised that in fact I have 52 holidays a year. I think I could be the person who vacations most on the entire planet – and you could join me! How?

The attitude of Gratitude plays a big part here. I got to thinking how gratitude filled I am with the fact that for 5 days a week I work. When I was done with that I topped up my state of Gratitude with the other fact that I’m on holiday for the last 2 days of the week. Then I really went over the top and celebrated that with public holidays, I really spend a lot of time on holiday! It sounds weird I know, but think about it. My attitude of Gratitude about my holidays has made me so excited that they have become “holy days” – days where work is suspended and I have decided chores happen during the week (I will make time for them then) and I am determined to do this and I will be devoted to my rest or pleasure.

I think that rocks! You are most welcome to join the revolution of turning normal weekends into holy days.

Heart Thoughts

• On a rating of 0 (sad) – 10 (excited) where is your set point on how you feel about your weekend? 

• What can you do to change it from sad to euphoric? 

• If there was nothing holding you back or something you feel obliged to do – what would you do the next holy days we have? 

Heart Note

Pick up your special journal and pen and figure out how to schedule those chores so you can make ‘holy days’ of your weekend. Commit to it publically – ask your friends and family to join you in celebrating your heartbeat and your life. Find the life/work balance in your life and play more!

Parting shot… be filled with Gratitude to be able to enjoy it – after all the Universe gave you holy days to use for it!

In Gratitude

Mish