Is it just me, or is it super hard to believe it’s December already? It’s the big winter holiday month, and time to start wrapping up, not just gifts, but 2016. Many of us are rather glad to see it go. For so many of us, it was a hard year, on both collective and personal levels.

Still, there are always blessings hidden in plain sight within the hard times. I have so much to be grateful for this year, and I’m counting those blessings as I begin to wrap up the year. Chief among them is that my Mom is feeling much better than she did last year at this time. I’m also super psyched that the book I’ve devoted so much energy to this year is, as of this writing, mere days from publication. I’m so thankful for the love and support of my dear family and close friends. And those are just the top three blessings. There are so many more! I encourage you to count your own blessings, as you traverse the often tricky holiday season. The more you focus on what you’re grateful for, the better you’ll feel. Really.

Here are some links for your weekend:

Here’s how to make your holidays more enjoyable and less hectic.

Watch out for these 9 distractions that can keep you from living a joyful life.

Concerned about what’s going on in the world around us? Um, yeah. You’re not alone. There has been some great writing about what we can (and can’t) do. Here are a few excellent posts you might have missed. I’m With Her (it’s not who you might think). Additional ways to support the Water Protectors and protesters at Standing Rock. Author Barbara Kingsolver’s message to her generation. This beautiful post about self-care during the Feminine Divine revolution.

Do you use the terms left brain and right brain? I do. Here’s an article (and interview) that focuses on the science behind our popular concepts of this idea.

Enjoy your weekend, and add some gratitude to your day. Blessings!