Countdown to Thanksgiving: Chill Out!

OK...the tip for today? Find time this weekend to do nothing. That's right...nothing.

Our household has been abuzz recently. We had the big Halloween shindig, followed the next weekend by around 375 little darlings trick-or-treating at our front door. Finally though, all the skulls, spiders and witches have been put back into storage containers for hibernation until next year's spooking time.

And, yes, I've started thinking about Turkey Day. After all, we have the out-of-town relatives coming in for dinner at my parents' place. That means table rental, transporting glassware, and lots of baking. But, There's still several weeks for that. In the meantime, it's time to actually pay attention to the Life Should Be Beautiful philosophy and take some time to observe the glories of the world around us.

So put away the to-do list, turn off the computer and television (and that pesky cell phone) and forget about that load of laundry. Put on your "best" sweatshirt and tennis shoes and hit the road. Walk around your yard. Or a local park. Or even better a local wildlife preserve. And really pay attention to all the great transformations Mother Nature has underway.

The leaves are changing. Not just on trees, but vines and bushes. Grasses and flowers have degenerated into interesting seed pods. Squirrels and birds are having a field day scrounging around for nuts and seeds before the chill of winter sets in. Listen carefully...what's scurrying in the leaves over there? If you're lucky, you'll catch the whiff of someone's fireplace going.

Try it. Turn on all your senses and relax. Here's betting you'll find yourself rejuvenated and more ready for the holiday onslaught ahead. Be careful though...you might actually enjoy it so much that it becomes a regular thing. Wouldn't that be a shame?