Hi Ximmys - 

So I’ve been told, ahem, that sometimes these newsletters get a little out there, as if I am sitting in Joshua Tree with some fellow deep thinkers, asking the questions that we only ask when we have a little space. Oops. Give me 250 words - about 200 more than my typical song - and I will use every single word.  No substances required.

Or, maybe my loquaciousness is not an “oops.”  We are at the end of the year, which of course is a time for extra reflection.  Talk to me in July, and well, I’ll talk about summer, light, easy things.  December?  Let’s dive into the dark, baby.

We take our Christmas posing very seriously!  Especially Hannah.

Not totally dark, of course.  Because I still will be the eternal optimist, and find the positive spin on whatever craziness is going through my head. 

We spent Christmas 2016 in Malta at the beach.  So easy to be happy there!

I am the eternal optimist, often, and especially to other people.  But I realized recently that when it’s just me, alone, I sometimes get stuck looking back, going over different parts or events that I don’t like.  Going over and over, and being mean to myself.  It’s so deep and so innate that half the time I don’t even realize I’m doing it. 

Amazing person Sandra asked me this question today: when I start criticizing myself, who am I giving my power to? I was pretty surprised by my answer:  I’m giving my power to the mean version of me.  To the voices in my head.  What?  Maybe I am a tin hat wearer, looking for aliens in Joshua Tree, listening to those voices.  Especially if I’m treating mean-me like a real person.  

Oh baby, this is going to be fun.  I didn't even know that mean-me existed, and now I get to be friends with her!? Nothing is more fun than being SO NICE to someone so crabby.  Wrap mean-me in a bow, cause I will love her so much that she will expose that little soft underbelly and ultimately merge back into normal-me.

So no surprises, we are leaving this one ultimately on the positive, talking about loving all sides of oneself.  A little question for you:  who’s the scrooge in your life that you’re going to love so much this holiday season?  Trust me, it’s gonna be fun!

Love always, 

Lauren

THANKS FOR READING!