The best gift you can give to other?

It has to do with the Most Magical Word in All the World...........guess what it is?

The word is YES! And this may be the best gift you can give this Christmas !

I have been on quite a journey these past 540 days. I was heading in one direction with someone, only for them to abruptly abandon the path without explanation. This person had proposed a new venture based on our shared experiences, and it seemed like an opportunity too good to pass up. So, I agreed.

We set out on this journey together, leaving everything behind. But suddenly, they were gone saying the new path was too hard.

 The path we were on required two people to steer the ship, and with their departure, I had to figure out how to navigate alone. It felt like treading water while trying to build a new ship and chart a new course.

Somehow, water metaphors feel appropriate for this moment. And now, as I reflect on what has helped me the most during this challenging time, I want to share the tools that have enabled me to rebuild and move forward. These can be summed up in the acronym RSVP—a phrase we recognize from the French “Répondez, s’il vous plaît,” meaning “Please respond.”

These tools are for you to use with others and for you to ask others to bless you with. RSVP is an easy way to remember what to do and what you need.

Here’s what RSVP stands for in this context:

R: Respond

When someone has the courage to reach out, respond. Even if you don’t agree, respond. Say yes, no, “I don’t know,” or “Let me get back to you.” Responding acknowledges the other person. It says, “I see you.” ( and sometimes, it was just being seen that helped me continue to tread water). So ask others to respond and respond when others make what John Gottman calls a  “bid for attention”.

During this journey, I’ve often felt like I was treading water, unseen and unheard. Responding is an act of connection—it can make all the difference.

S: Say Yes

Say yes as often as possible. Research shows that saying yes opens us to new possibilities and pathways. These last 540 days have been filled with countless “no” responses from others; or just being ignored which is another form of NO. Yet, I’ve kept going, inspired by the perseverance of figures like President Lincoln, who endured rejection after rejection.

V: Veritas

Veritas, the Roman virtue of truthfulness, reminds us to speak our truth with love and clarity.  WE must be willing to Speak from the “I,” set good boundaries, and communicate in ways that maximize the likelihood of being heard. Truth, shared with compassion, can transform relationships and circumstances.

P: Point

The point is to be authentically you. By responding with yes and living your truth, you bring your unique light to the world. This is how we bless others in profound ways.

To people who choose to do in-depth work, YOU are an advanced soul, because the work you do  is deep and broad and well advanced!  It takes courage to connect with Authentic self, heal what stands in the way of the expression of your true self and then venture into the world to make your dreams come true.

I see you and you are a dazzling radiant star. As you allow this inner light to illuminate your path, you also are a light for others.

Also, I am posting  a meditation on Facebook on Christmas Eve at 4:00. I will most likely record it ahead of time and if you know someone who may want to hear it, have them t make a friend request .

For now, however you celebrate the “return of the light” in December, I wish with you that 2025 is the year your dreams come alive.

In love and appreciation for who you are: you bless the world and you do it by being yourself.