It's been an interesting holiday season so far. I don't tend to throw myself enthusiastically into the holidays, I am learning slowly to experiment with what feels right for me and my little family, what brings the deepest expression and is within my means. Yesterday, I had occassion to brave The Mall as I had to return some items; I was not intending to "Christmas shop." Yet I knew I would meet up with a multitude of holiday shoppers in the process. I could have anticipated a lot of stress, but instead, I chose to head for the mall at a time that felt intuitively 'right' for me. I went with an open mind, well-fueled and properly Meditated, and sang in my car the whole way there. My morning had been beautiful; a shot of acupuncture mid-morning and I was feeling fine.

I was so surprised at how well-behaved my fellow mall patrons were! I observed people being kind to one another, looking happy as they shopped. One little three-year-old sported a rudolph-the-rednosed-reindeer nose that lit up, blinking away! People made eye contact and responded to my hearty "good morning" or "happy holidays" with the same. I was really overjoyed at how humanity was behaving well. Save for one female blowing her top that another patron swiped her parking spot, humankind appeared to be happy.

My highlight of the morning was finding a store that sells nothing but popcorn! All kinds, all varieties! This made me very happy indeed.

My shopping trip, the one in which I actually bought nothing, was so unexpectedly wonderful. It taught me a good lesson not to have preconceived notions that things 'won't work out" or will be hard. This trip was bliss.

Happy shopping....