Gosford City Magazine article (Jan 2015)

stock-footage-group-of-happy-girls-running-and-playing-in-water-at-the-beach-on-sunset-beauty-and-joyful

It is officially Summer. School is done. Holidays are here. Yay!!!  The weather is great…..I hope…and you are busy with Christmas and New Year’s celebrations, and sharing holiday fun with family and friends. And I really hope all your wishes come true.

But at some point in the silly season, I get overwhelmed by it all and crave the return of normalcy. And I know for many, while family is great, maybe only in small doses.

After a while, I secretly want to get back to work and for the kids to be back at school.  I become agitated by too much relaxing and socialising and long for the return to routine and my ‘alone time’ and ‘creative space’.  And you know what? That is entirely OK and natural too! I don’t need to be “hostess with the mostess”. I don’t need to love every moment of my holiday.  It doesn’t need to be perfect.

I have a very humble Christmas wish list: I really want to be able to lie on the beach all day and read a trashy novel, and be ok with that. I’d really love to declare a pyjama and movie day marathon and not feel guilty.  I’d really love the whole family to have a… (gasp!).. media-free day. That means no newspapers or books, no email, no phone, no TV, no Facebook, no games or internet of any kind!

I’d really love to jump in the car with the kids and a tent and have no idea of where we end up, and feel completely excited by that. I’d really love to be able to spontaneously host a BBQ for thirty friends and their children and not spiral into a complete stress and panic.

But you know what? I doubt any of that will happen.  And that’s OK too! For us, summer holidays sanity depends on surrender, low expectations, looking for simple pleasures and cheap thrills.

So for this silly season and holiday period, each day, to help with my sanity, I am going to begin my day with a prayer.  Here is my prayer for invoking within me the Spirit of love and surrender for Christmas and Summer Holidays. Feel free to use it and share it:

A Prayer of Love & Let Be

Dear Spirit, fill my heart with unconditional love for my family and friends

Spirit, guide me to the people, places, experiences and events where my gifts and presence are of best service

Spirit, fill me with grace and faith in the perfection of the now, so I can fully participate in the great unknowing and go with the flow of life and love

Spirit, fill me with generosity and joy so I can freely share it with everyone I meet

Spirit, fill me with wonder for nature and gratitude for everything, so I can see the sacred all around me.

Spirit, relax my body, mind and soul, so I can be renewed and refreshed to be present in each moment

Spirit, I give thanks for the blessings and gifts that are always there to be found.

And so be it.

Merry Christmas. Happy Holidays. Much love and peace to you all. Love Sarah

Sarah Tolmie is a Life & Love celebrant, coach, pastoral carer and consultant assisting people to celebrate, navigate, grow and heal through all their life & love transitions. Her coaching practice focuses on love & relationships; families & children; success & wellness; and end of life, death & grief. As a Celebrant Sarah create profound and meaningful ceremonies for all life & love events. You can visit her website, new.sarahtolmie.com.au and find her on Facebook – Sarah Tolmie, Life & Love, where you can receive her Daily Love updates.