Dear Friends,

Warm winter greetings from Colorado! Welcome back to Sip of Soup, my FREE bi-monthly E-sip offering a taste of insight and lessons to help keep you caring while living a more balanced, happier life. I hope you find these messages to be timely, helpful and I wish you a wonderful holiday season! - LeAnn

A Sip of Soup - November/December, 2003 Higher Positivity Power I often pontificate (that's a nice word for "nag") that we need to balance our lives physically, mentally and spiritually. To do so means taking as little as 15 minutes a day for meditation, reflection, and/or prayer. If you're like me, though, you struggle with that discipline on an ordinary day, let alone during the holiday season! Yet what better time to relax, breathe and spend time with the Higher Power we believe in? I've learned that when I think I'm too busy and I skip this spiritual time, the day doesn't go nearly as well -- I'm less productive and joy-filled. But when, if not this season, do we need to be most productive and joy-filled?! Statistics show that 96% of Americans believe in a God. So, no matter your religious persuasion, I "nag" you to make this investment of Spirit-time (and it is an investment with big pay-back!) Lessons from LeAnn Let the cookie dough chill another 15 minutes, postpone the planning of the holiday event, let the mail carrier wait another day. Light a candle, play your favorite spiritual music, quietly pray, meditate or read a daily passage and connect with the holiday Spirit. Soup of the Day - A Healthy Quote Under the influence of the blessed Spirit, faith produces holiness, and holiness produces faith. Faith in an all-seeing and personal God elevates the soul, purifies the emotions, sustains human dignity, and lends poetry, nobility, and holiness to the commonest state, condition and manner of life. - Juan Valera (author 1824-1905) ******************** To learn more about my speaking and inspirational books, that will keep you and your audience caring, balanced, and committed, click on the link below. www.LeAnnThieman.com

You will continue to receive this bi-monthly e-sip. We will not distribute your personal information or email address, period. If you do not wish to receive future editions, follow the link below to unsubscribe.

A Sip of Soup is written by LeAnn Thieman, nurse, speaker and co-author of the New York Times bestseller, Chicken Soup for the Nurse's Soul. She also co-authored Chicken Soup for the Christian Woman's Soul and is privileged to be working on Caregiver's Soul due out in August, 2004.