Sepia Prime Woman Digital Magazine December 2013 | Page 4

From The Publisher

Prime Time
Creating an atmosphere of Love, Peace and
Focus
Creating an atmosphere of
Love, Peace and Focus
Well it’s December and many
of our thoughts have turned
to gifts, gatherings and
gaiety. This is my favorite
time of the year, as it is for
many of you, because for
some reason people seem
more willing to demonstrate
selfless love. I believe there
are people doing kind acts for others every day, but at this
time of the year media makes brownie points for reporting
it. The combination of demonstrating love and then
seeing reports about it provoke the rest of us to want to do
something kind. An atmosphere of love is created where
the miraculous can happen because we decide to express
God’s hands and heart towards others especially between
Thanksgiving and Christmas. Why can’t we have the
miraculous, loving kind of atmosphere we see at Christmas,
all year round? Perhaps you and I can start today.
What is present in this holiday atmosphere that seems to
invite miracles? First there is love, but how we define and
express love may be based on the condition of our own
broken, misused hearts. Let’s use an impartial source – a
definition that doesn’t change no matter what happens to
us.
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is
not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is
not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing,
but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all
things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.
Some aspects of love are patience (staying power, lack of
complaint, tolerance), kindness (a generous, warm-hearted
nature), not thinking evil of others because of what they
have, or talking about yourself in a manner that demeans
them. Love doesn’t gleefully wait to catch someone doing
wrong and say, “Aha! I caught you!” Love tells the truth.
Living up to just those aspects of love would keep us busy
365 days a year; maybe that’s why the holiday cheer stops
on January 2nd -- demonstrating love requires WORK!

Let’s look at peace. Peace = harmony, tranquility, calm,
stillness, quiet. There is a world at war against your peace.
Hold your peace! When you consider what peace really
is, you understand why we have to struggle to keep it.
Identify the things that fight you for your peace every day.
Is it a lack of organization?
Are you getting up too late in the morning to have a
peaceful transition from home to work? How are you
addressing the things in your heart that keep you awake at
night? Those things can be bills, relationships that aren’t
loving, wholesome or mutually beneficial, or a sense of
unfulfilled purpose. You need to find your peace and then
HOLD ON TO IT, in spite of what the day brings.
Focus = spotlight: Where is the beam of your heart
centered? What’s the spotlight for you right now? If your
focus is in the wrong place, not only will you lack peace, but
you can spend your days never accomplishing what you set
out to do. Focus is not as pretty a word as Love and Peace,
but without Focus you could miss them both.
Here is one quick way to cultivate a loving, peaceful
attitude and direct your focus to where it should be. Get
up early enough every day to stop and contemplate your
surroundings and life. Meditate for at least 10-15 minutes
by sitting quietly and pondering what is true, honest, right
and good in your world. Yes, there will be thoughts that
try to intrude on this quiet time, so bring your calendar
or paper so that you can write them down to address later.
This will alleviate pressure on you to remember them.
What is your desire for the holidays? I’m not talking about
gifts, but do you want family and friends around you? Do
you want to take a trip instead? How do you want your
home to “feel” every day? How can you make others
around you feel loved? Start by demonstrating love based
on God’s definition, fight for your peace, and focus on those
you love. Most importantly, consider your own purpose on
planet earth and get to it! Repeat Daily.You are loved.

Michele