Sarah hamilton's Blog

This is where you'll find my musings on Gratitude, Inspiration, Stillness and Awe…. "Transform your thoughts, transform your life"

Twas the Night Before Christmas… December 24, 2012

I have turned “Twas the Night Before Christmas” into a yearly blogging tradition.  So enjoy and squeeze your loved ones a little closer this Holiday! I know I will!

Happy Holidays!

~Sarah

‘Twas The Night Before Christmas”

By Clement Clarke Moore

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.
And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer.

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!

“Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!”

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.

His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,
“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!”

 

Peace on Earth December 20, 2012

The last few days here in CT have been very raw for people.  In response, so much has been said in reference to what “should” be done….. What parents “should” do… That word… should.  My mind keeps going to the children who don’t have involved parents.  What about them?  Who will care for them?  And then I came to the same thing that I always come to…..

 

Love.

 

The love of ourselves and more importantly the love of all, others.  That is the only thing in this life worth anything.  Love…. We can love all that is around us. So stop and ask yourself when pressures and stress of the season start tot get to you as they do to everyone…

What would Love do? And move forward from there.

My wish for you all at this holiday and Christmas season is true joy, peace but above all…. love   

Happy Happy Holidays!

Love,

~Sarah

 

Random Acts Of Kindness! December 5, 2012

IMG_1137

Ross and Frances Hamilton on their 50th Wedding Anniversary 2012

 

As some of you may know it was my parents 50th wedding anniversary a few weeks ago and I wanted to share a story with you.  We had a big party for them a week before their day due to the fact that their anniversary was on Thanksgiving weekend.  Dear family and friends were around to celebrate.  We even reinacted a photograph that was taken on their wedding day.  So on the actual day they decided they wanted to go out to a special dinner at a lovely local restaurant.  It was a special experience where the chef came out to chat with them to see how they were enjoying their meal.  And of course my parents ended up chatting with the lovely couple next to them.  My parents are like me and chat with whomever engages them.  You know the kind of people who say “Good morning!”  as they pass people during their morning.  Well… in this instance when my father went to pay the bill my parents found out that this amazing couple next to them had taken care of it, including the tip!!!!  When they told me this it literally brought tears to my eyes due to the unconditional kindness two strangers had shown my parents.

O.K…..So this got me thinking… How do you give back or express random acts of kindness (R.A.O.K)?  I’m a Huge fan of R.A.O.K!!  I do it as often as I think of it.  Whether it’s buying a meal for a homeless person, paying for the car behind me at the toll booth (yes I don’t have easy pass) or  Knitting for Hurricane Sandy relief…. Whatever it might be for you.  I also love the kind of kindness where it isn’t about you.  You give and let that be.  You don’t announce it to the world you just do it so that someone else feels loved!  When we give unconditionally your kindness to others reflects back on you.  By being kind to another you are being kind to yourself.  We live in a world that has a easier time looking at what’s not good… So why don’t we focus on what is Good.

 

Scan 1

Ross and Frances Hamilton on their wedding day 1962

By being kind to another you are being kind to yourself and this reflects out on the world.  So let’s get together and start a R.A.O.K campaign! What will you be doing this week to give other!!  I invite you to share what you are doing!!

 

Lots of Love

~SHC

 

 

Count Your Blessings… December 1, 2012

Today is December 1st and I’m absolutely “Gob Smacked” that we are so close to the end of the year…. I remember as a child adults saying that the older one becomes the faster the years will go.  And at that time I thought they were all crazy but now? I’m right there with them.  It’s also truly the holiday season now (even though the stores would like us to think otherwise) and as a real lover of this time of year I always watch the Big Crosby Danny Kaye movie White Christmas.  Of all the absolutely quintessential Christmas music in it my favorite of all time is Count You Blessings.  And since I’ve been blogging quite a bit these days about gratitude I thought I’d add this one into the mix. Enjoy!

 

 

Lots of Love!

~SHC

 

What are you Gr8ful 4? November 29, 2012

Filed under: Uncategorized — sarahhamiltoncoaching @ 12:36 PM
Tags: , , , , , , ,

 

A few years ago I did a Gratitude Experiment for a month and blogged about it…. And you know what I miss it. The intensity of it…

I’ve kept a Gratitude Journal for well over a decade now and I have always found myself to be a very Gr8ful human but I got to wondering…. What would be different if I stated my gratitude not only throughout the day but out loud so that others heard me.  Well I found out a few very powerful things:

  • It immediately pulls you into the moment and quiets the chattering monkey and the gremlins.  It allows you to hear your own authentic voice.
  • By sharing with others what they are Gr8ful for we energetically hold their and your intentions at a higher more healthy level for Gratitude to grow.
  • Hence the more you find to be Gr8ful for, the more you have to be Gr8ful for!

This month-long experiment was amazing! So what was an experiment, became be part of my everyday life.   Here are the 5 things I am Gr8ful 4, for today!

Today I’m Gr8ful 4:

  1. Beautiful delicious Sunshine!
  2. My scrumptious Boyfriend!
  3. Knitting for others!
  4. Organic and Locally made Nubian Heritage Shea Butter
  5. Chinese Herbs

I invite you to join me! Start telling me what you are Gr8ful 4 and see what shows up in your life. Tweet it, Facebook it or simply comment here.  I’d LOVE to know and share in this journey with you.

 

Lots of Love!

~SHC

 

Allowing…. November 26, 2012

Filed under: Uncategorized — sarahhamiltoncoaching @ 10:05 AM
Tags: , , , , , , ,

I think of myself as a patient person.  I’m often even told on a regular basis that I”m SO patient.  That said I’m regularly tested on this front.  Whether I plan a phone call to discuss an important issue and the person is out of town or I have ordered a time sensitive package and it is late or  traffic is crazy and I think I will be late (notice these are time related for me?).  It could be any or all of these scenarios.  I’m not even going to bring in the health issues that can occur.  I regularly write, coach or talk about allowing. Even saying this word gives me peace.

The Webster definition of Allow is:  1. admit (an event or activity) as legal or acceptable  2. give the necessary time or opportunity for.  “Give the necessary time or opportunity for”,  This is my favorite part of the definition.  When buttons are pushed as they can happen even to the best of us.  How do you return to the start of allowing?  Where you don’t struggle or fight with your given circumstances?  I am a Huge fan of breath… for more reasons than the obvious.  It helps us to return to our natural state of loving.  Loving of self and others.  It centers us.  The breath is a mini meditation. The ability to stay in this state is a bit like being a child.  Most children are very allowing because they have yet to learn their ability to control their surroundings.  They trust.  Ah trust…. So much of what gets in our way is our inability to trust.  If we stay in a state of allowing the trust comes more effortlessly.  Now I don’t mean allow others to do to you anything they choose but allow life to have its grace and kindness that we all seek.

 

What will you do today to allow?  To remain at peace with yourself?  How will you stay connected to your breath?

 

Lots of Love!

~SHC

 

Gratitude…. November 22, 2012

Thanksgiving is a time of year that always reminds me how grateful I am… And in the last few days there have been a few things that have happened to remind me even more of just this.  Today’s blog post I’m taking a moment to ask that you tell those close to you how much they mean to you and extend this love out to others that you come in contact with today. Being in a place of love not only is good for you directly but helps others in kind.  Here is a wonderful Shaker song that I simply love, love, love… Simple gifts!

Truly sending Love to you today!

And Happy Thanksgiving!

~SHC

 

His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama: “Advice for Daily Life” November 21, 2012

I posted a few days ago the October 18th lecture by His Holiness so I thought I’d post his second lecture as well.  It was on the following day at Western Connecticut State University . I also thought it was apropos after Monday’s post.  🙂 We could all use a wee bit of a reminder on living with compassion….

Energetically!

~Sarah

 

Noticing a trend…. November 19, 2012

Filed under: Uncategorized — sarahhamiltoncoaching @ 11:02 AM
Tags: , , , , ,

I’ve been noticing a trend on Facebook and Twitter recently.  People and pages will post status updates and the world responds accordingly… but… On the posts that are rather innocuous or even lovely, sweet and charming the responses are completely catabolic… unhealthy or negative.  I know that this is nothing new but it does seem to be escalating.  I am, to this day baffled at those who chose the catabolic response versus the anabolic or healthy response.  We choose or thoughts, reactions and feelings.  For example.: There was a picture of President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama sitting in a restaurant looking very loving and the caption was a conversation to exemplify a healthy marriage and the world started ripping apart the President.  No matter how one feels about our President the sentiment in the picture was really beautiful.  So my question is this Why does most of the world gravitate towards the negative when we know we can choose another way? Why do people find it easier to be destructive with their comments then compassionate.  It’s just not nice!  What we feel as a society that is ok to say to another has always flummoxed me.

Are we bombarded by this catabolic “stuff”, yes.  But do we have to choose it? No.  Compassion is the truly only way.  When we are confronted  by this toxic behavior it is our job to remind ourselves to be as compassionate as possible. I just keep thinking that if one is as hard as they are on others… How hard must they be on themselves….  I keep thinking about that age-old adage… “When you don’t have anything nice to say don’t say anything at all”

Sending Love and ease out to you all!

~Sarah

 

Thoughts on a Tweet from Deepak Chopra… November 14, 2012

 

How do you want to be in the world?

 

 

 

I wanted to share this blog post…. but you have to listen instead.  Here are some thoughts on a tweet from Deepak Chopra… Another Podcast for my blog!

 

Energetically,

~Sarah