Dear Newsletter Readers, Many thanks to all of you for helping make this such a wonderful year! I appreciate all your enthusiasm, emails and support! I hope the holiday season is filled with peace, magic and joy and that 2007 brings even more health, growth, fulfillment and happiness for you all.

If you live in the Greater Boston area and need help with wrapping, events, running errands or other tasks, contact Julia Wright, Holiday Helper Extraordinaire. For about $20 an hour, Julia can take your stresses off your plate so you have time to enjoy yourself! Email Julia at: jwbw@earthlink.net, or call 781-259-3442!

HOLIDAY TRADITIONS

Many of our holiday traditions center around gift-giving and feasting. Sometimes the spirit of wonder and warmth in relationships can get lost during the hectic holiday time. In order to bring more meaning and connection to your holidays, I recommend adding some of the following traditions to your celebrations and events:

In addition to or instead of bringing gifts, ask guests to bring a special poem, music or piece of art to share. Each guest can talk about what that piece means to him or her and express other thoughts that the pieces evoke.

Ask guests to share their wishes for the rest of the winter season. Give each guest a special card in which to write down their wishes. Ask them to address the card to themselves, and then keep the card. Mail it to them in the beginning of spring. You and they maybe surprised at how many of these wishes come true! Ask someone else at the gathering to take the card you wrote and mail it to you, so you will be included in this tradition.

Ask family members and friends to bring a photograph that holds special memories. Ask guests to explain why they chose that picture and share their thoughts and connection to the photo.

GIFT GIVING

Giving gifts with inspiration and thought can contribute to more connection and warmth. The gifts below can add a special touch and show your thoughtfulness and positive intentions:

For anyone on your list:

Give a copy of my new book: “101 Great Ways to Improve Your Life: Volume 2”. This is a unique compilation of 101 short but inspirational articles filled with practical, motivational advice on how you can finally take action and improve your life! The book includes my article about “Embracing Opportunities”, as well as great thoughts from John Gray, Jack Canfield, Richard Carlson, Bob Proctor, Alan Cohen and many other leading Self Improvement experts. When you purchase a book, you will also receive other free self-development materials from some of the contributors. More Information

For the busy businessperson:

Who doesn’t need to trust their gut more in the business world these days? Give Trust Your Gut: How The Power of Intuition Can Grow Your Business by Lynn Robinson. More Information

Know people who could use more Work/Life Balance? Getting Unstuck Without Coming Unglued by Sharon Teitelbaum is an excellent guide to help them slow down and honor their true priorities. More Information

Know someone who is behind in his or her reading? The average business executive has over 350 hours of backlogged reading. For $149 a year, you can send them Executive Book Summaries, so they can receive excellent digests of the most respected business books available. More Information

For people in transition:

Know someone who is struggling with a career transition? Choice Points: Navigating Your Career Using the Unique PaperRoom Process by Sydney Rice is an excellent tool to help them glean their core values from peak life experiences and create a panoramic career overview. More Information

Know someone single who could use more romance and love in her life? Christian Carter has a variety of books and tapes full of dating tips from a man's point of view. Christian teaches women to understand men and how to avoid common dating mistakes. Go to www.catchhimandkeephim.com. A great complement to Christian's work is my eBook, "Great News for Dating and Mating: Winning Strategies that Work!" Go to www.suzanneblake.com for more information.

Gifts that Give So Much:

Give gifts that touch others as well as the recipient. The gift of an animal can make a world of difference to a family struggling in poverty. Go to Heifer International for more information about this worthy organization.

I hope these suggestions bring more beauty and depth to your holiday season. Scroll down to be inspired by others who used information and courage to attain their fondest dreams!

A man in his late fifties was laid off from his executive position in Human Resources. He missed facilitating international groups and collaborating with like-minded colleagues. After careful thought and career exploration, he found an international consulting company that would offer him many of the key qualities he was looking for in his next position!

A man in his late fifties experienced a very stressful divorce. He was cautious about entering into another committed partnership, so he carefully observed and “interviewed” his girlfriend of two years before asking her to marry him. He sorted out the pros and cons of the relationship and clarified that he was with the right woman. He proposed on his sixtieth birthday as a present to himself! He is now happily married and thrilled to have this fulfilling relationship.

A woman in her mid-thirties enjoyed her executive level position but longed for more Work/Life balance. She learned to set priorities, delegate more and avoid her tendency towards perfectionism. She began leaving work earlier to go to the gym and exercise twice a week. Not only did she feel better and have more energy, but she met a very special man at her new gym that she is very excited about dating!

INDIVIDUAL COACHING: Explore what coaching can do for you! For people new to coaching, I always offer a complimentary session designed to help clarify and move forward to the career, relationships, and lifestyle you truly desire! Coaching can help you gain clarity about your goals, provide accountability and structure, and help you move through your obstacles and fear toward success. Coaching will help you make the changes you want so you live a life that reflects your values and priorities! Click on the link under my picture to access my website, with a coaching video from a television spot I did for WCVB Boston Channel 5 Chronicle Magazine and detailed New York Times and Boston Globe articles profiling my work, and testimonials from satisfied clients.

Take the Test: What's Your Compatibility? Offered at Brookline Adult and Community Education Center on Tuesday, January 23, 2007 from 7-9:30pm. Are you in the right relationship for you? How can you tell who would be the right person to be your lifelong partner? For singles or people in a relationship, we will help you determine the best partner so you feel comfortable with your dating and mating choices. For more information and to register, call 617-730-2700 or click here.

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