Hi There,

As you read this I'll be having fun Christmas shopping with my husband Pete. We started our "take a day off for shopping tradition" the year after my mom passed away. I missed my mother-daughter traditions so I asked my husband to "fill-in". He willingly stepped up to the plate and since then it's developed as our tradition. We pick up gifts for our daughters and enjoy lunch someplace with cozy ambiance!

In the holiday spirit, this week I'm sharing an article written by a good friend and colleague, Rita Goldhammer. Rita works with people going through transition and loss and is a mentor to many people who are experiencing grief. I know the holidays can be a difficult time for many people, for many different reasons. Rita's article sheds light on how to get through the holidays when you're feeling sad. Please forward it to anyone you know that's facing a difficult time this holiday season.

I like to share articles like Rita's for one very important reason, no matter how driven we are to create a business we love, we also want our lives to work well, feel great and be on track. In other words, we desire **whole life success**, not just business success. Articles like Rita's help us navigate our way through life's tough spots so that we can continue creating the life, business, relationships, health...etc...we really want!

2007 is coming to a close! Next week I'm going to share with you an end-of-year exercise I do rain, shine or blizzard! I also request my mastermind members do this too, as well as my clients. I can't wait to share it with you! It's a success strategy that will make you feel great about the year that has passed!

Enjoy your weekend! As for me I will be busy straight through Sunday night with Christmas celebrations of all types. Next week I promise to share a photo or two of all the fun!

Bye for now...

Wishing you happiness and success,



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How To Get Through The Holidays
When You Are Feeling Sad!
By: Rita Goldhammer

**Please feel free to forward this ezine and article to anyone you feel could use some extra help this holiday season.**

Holidays are promoted as the great family get together, implementing traditions and creating memories. This is not true or realistic for many people. Many people feel sad and lonely at this time of the year as they will not be able to be with their families. Physical and emotional distance can sometimes separate families. Sadness can be triggered by the extra financial burden taken on for hosting holiday events and gift buying. Just trying to fit it all in can alter our patterns of eating, drinking, sleeping and exercising.

One thing we can look at is our expectation and our true reality of the holidays. Setting clear expectations of ourselves and others during the holidays can make then so much more sensible. Create this years activities around what will work for you, not what you have always done in the past or what will make others happy. Be gentle with yourself and choose what will make you comfortable.

Plan your shopping by creating a list before you go. If you do not like the crowds on the weekends and evenings take a vacation day to do your shopping. You might want to include your favorite people in your outing. Other alternatives would be to make gifts, shop online or order gifts through a catalogue.

Life changes! It is OK to acknowledge your feelings and give yourself permission to do what you want to do this holiday season. Say NO to the things you do not want to do. Take time to make choices regarding traditions you want to do this year. If there are traditions that are going to make you sad do something different. Remember, we can always go back to old ones another year. You may find the new traditions are better and you will want to continue them. Learning to pace yourself is very important so that you do not get sick. Enjoy what you have chosen to do this holiday season.

When you are sad and lonely, reach out to your support groups. This is not an easy task for most. Do you remember how much you enjoy helping others? It's time to give the gift of letting them help you. If you are unsure of what you want from them it is OK to be clear as to what you don't want. Also, you may want to share with them what is making you sad this holiday season.

We all think that everyone is so happy around the holidays but they can bring up unpleasant memories. Try to focus on today and creating new memories this year. I like to think about living in the present as receiving gifts of peace and joy! Make a list of five to twelve things that will give you happiness. An example might be to turn off the holiday songs and list to music that feeds your soul. Another example could be going to the library and finding a good book to read. Start doing one thing from your list each day to get you through the holidays! Remember, this holiday season, the gift of caring, is for YOU!

Rita Goldhammer brings the hope and calm to the chaos of transition and loss. As a life coach and grief specialist, she welcomes the opportunity to walk the path of transition and loss with you as you grow your way toward a renewed life and meaning. She is a certified professional co-active coach and a trained bereavement facilitator.. Rita has co-authored three E- books on the emotional adjustment of transition which you can find at www.mymovingexperience.com Contact Rita at 763.784.4841 or email her at Rgold112@aol.com or visit her web site www.pivotalcrossings.com.

Want to use my articles on your website or your own ezine? You sure can, but here's what you MUST include: Cari Vollmer, Founder of LifeOnTrack.com, will show you step-by-step how to turn your passions into more purpose, freedom and profit! To sign up for her FREE how-to articles and no-charge special report, "How to Turn Your Passions into More Purpose, Freedom and Profit", visit LifeOnTrack.com.

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