It's that time of year when many of us are looking for a gift that will touch the heart of someone special. This week I thought I'd share a few ideas.
Saved by a Poem: The Transformative Power of Words by Kim Rosen. This is one of my favorite books of the year. As someone who started writing poems in my early teens, I quickly became enamored with Kim's soulful way of writing about the power of poetry to heal, inspire, touch, or free us to express ourselves more deeply. It's a great gift for those who write poetry, read it, or wish they understood it better. The book is a unique gift in that it also includes a CD of authors like Joan Borysenko, Christiane Northrup, Elizabeth Lesser or Robert Holden, reciting their favorite poems. I was pretty nervous when asked to contribute one of mine - Beannacht (Blessing) by John O'Donohue, and yet found it to be a magical experience. If you love words, you'll love this book. You can find it
here.
Playground Pump by Chris Rauchnot & Nancy Levin. This is a cool gift for the moms and dads in your life who love to visit the playground with their kids. It's a card deck filled with exercises you (and your kids) can do while having fun! Chris and Nancy spent several years developing a specific workout plan that will strengthen every important muscle group using playground equipment. And it works. The deck also comes as an iPhone application and you can learn more about it
here.
Every Moment Matters: Savoring the Stuff of Life by John St. Augustine. When I received the manuscript of this book, I was instantly captivated by the power of stories to shift our thinking and perspective about life. He uses beautiful stories from his own life to not only explore the lessons they've taught him, but the lessons we can all learn from the tiniest of moments. Dr. Oz has written the foreword and it's the kind of book that a loved one will place by their bed for a dose of inspiration before going to sleep. You can find it
here.
The Art of Extreme Self Care: A Weekend Retreat for Women. I'll be offering a weekend retreat from May 7th - 9th, 2010, at Omega in Rhinebeck, NY. Omega is offering a discount for those who want to bring a mom, sister, or friend, and this is the perfect gift for the woman in your life who needs some time for herself and new ways to practice better self-care. I've chosen Mother's Day weekend because, at its core, Extreme Self Care is about becoming your own "extraordinary mother." For more info click
here.
Finally, for the person who has everything, you might want to make life easier for you and others by donating money to a favorite charity in a loved one's name. This year, my friends and I are forgoing gifts for donations and my local "no-kill" cat shelter,
The Merrimack River Feline Rescue Society, will be all the better for it. So many organizations that are doing good work in the world need our help and this gift idea gives you a chance to make a lot of people happy.
This week, as you go about your holiday shopping, please keep our "Take Action Challenge" in mind
☺.
