The Christmas Trees at St. Leonard: San Damiano Residence

Jodie Rosso, a St. Leonard Volunteer is decorating a tree in one of the San Damiano Residence lobbies.

Virtual Team Brainstorm: Holiday Brain Teaser!

Good Morning:

It doesn’t look much look or feel like Winter outside with all of the rain we have been having, but Christmas will be here in just over 2 weeks!

Are you ready for another holiday brain teaser? Let me know how you do! Here you go….

You will know that I am coming
From the jingle of my bell,
But exactly who I am is not an easy thing to tell.

Children, they adore me
for they find me jolly,
but I do not see them when the halls are decked with holly.

My job often leaves me frozen,
I am a man that all should know,
But I do not do business in times of sleet or ice or snow.

I travel much on business,
But no reindeer haul me around,
I do all my traveling firmly on the ground.

I love the time of Christmas,
But that's not my vocational season,
And I assure that is because of a sound economic reason.

Good luck! The answer is below. Have a great weekend!

Kelly

Answer Ice Cream Man

Team Houck: Evan and Eva

Evan giving baby Ava love!! and resting with mama

Blue Zone Your Memory No. 38: Christmas Shopping

Your brain becomes hyper alert during the Christmas season and the marketing stimuli directed toward the senses can cause you to exceed your budget. According to Psychology Today (2012) our senses play a powerful role on our mood during holiday shopping, and just being aware of this phenomenon can help shoppers stay within their budget. For example, did you know that the red and greed colors of Christmas can change your mood? The color red energizes and excites the brain, and the color green is associated with optimism and well-being. So stepping into a store filled with these colors, and the smells, sounds, and textures of Christmas can trick or overstimulate the emotional heart and the brain to react, which is often the trigger needed to overspend.

Team Spiritual Care: Learning How to Receive

Tim Dressman CEO   ADVENT: LEARNING HOW TO RECEIVE We have in Mary’s story what some call the second creation story in the Bible. Again it is a creation that is ex nihilo, or out of nothing. Mary is the one quite willing to be the nothing. God does not need worthiness ahead of time; God creates worthiness by the choice itself. And as I have said many other times, “God does not love you because you are good; you are good because God loves you.” It seems God will not come into the world unreceived or uninvited. God is gentle and does not come into your world unless you actually want God. Presence is a reciprocal or mutual encounter. One can give it, but it has to be received or there is no presence. For many Catholics, Mary is indeed the model of how “real presence” effectively happens. It is not just through a priest’s transubstantiation of bread, but by the transformation of the persons who eat that bread. From Things Hidden: Scripture as Spirituality, pp. 178-179

December Blessing from Denise!

December 2012 Employee Wellness Moments: Holiday Survival!

Physical	Environmental
Create an indoor "reindeer" walking path.	Dust off holiday decorations before using
Start an "avoid the elevator" challenge.	Follow safety suggestions for outlets and extension cords.
Have a fitness equipment swap day.	Never leave candles unattended.
Make a list of your excuses for not exercising in the winter.	Keep you first aid kit stocked for minor gift wrapping paper cuts etc.
Journal your best exercise days in 2012.	Map out your destination to parties ahead of time.
Social	Spiritual
Check to see if you have made contact with all of your friends in 2012.	Remain respectful and considerate of the religious choices of others.
Plan to attend a social with at least one new 2012 friend.	Enhance your holiday season with your personal spiritual traditions.
Take time to write those gratitude notes.	Take time for meditation and /or prayer
Regift at least one new gift to another person in need.	Support a relgious leader in your community by offering to help this season.
Check your December social calendar for accuracy and possible overlap.	Make a list of your 2012 blessings.
Nutritional	Occupational
Share mocktail recipes with coworkers.	Respect the schedules of others when planning office parties.
Start each day reflecting on healthy food choices.	Wrap up your 2012 reporting early
Don't skip meals during the holiday season.	Make sure you have the necessary tools to start 2013
Skip heavy appetizers when possible.	Take time to thank employees, volunteers, and vendors for a year of support.
Limit the variety of taste treats at each social.	Change personal greetings and email signatures as needed for the holidays.
Intellectual	Emotional
Make a list of things that you would like to learn in 2013.	Encourage laughter in holiday gatherings
Show or demonstrate your hobbies to another person or group.	Acknowledge the sadness that holidays can bring to coworkers at times.
Select gifts that inspire the imagination this season.	Be extra kind and nurturing to yourself during the holidays.
Brief walks in the fresh air can boost brain power.	Seek support for your new year's resolutions.
Take moments to downsize from too much stimuli	Celebrate the holiday season using your values as a guiding light.