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 Maria DiGiorgio is a lifelong New Yorker, who currently resides in Commack, with her family. She is a devoted wife and mother, an educator and designer. Maria is active in her community, as a PTA mom and Girl Scout leader. She has a passion for interior decorating and loves to garden. She is an avid reader, and enjoys writing about life experiences and parenthood, as well as her personal observations about the world around us. |
| We are now entering the holiday season: the season of celebration, of religious observation, of giving. We give thanks for all our blessings and for all whom we love and hold dear. We give financial support to countless organizations, whose purposes are to make life less difficult, and the day-to-day existence of others, more bearable. We spend untold hours thinking of, searching for and purchasing gifts to shower upon the people we call “family” and “friends”, so they may celebrate the holidays feeling more valued and appreciated, (we hope), throughout the year. One thing we may forget to do, but one thing that is so very important, is to give, not only of and from ourselves, but also, to ourselves. Certainly, when we give to others, we are actually receiving the benefit of feeling kind, compassionate, generous, thoughtful and helpful. But, we must also think of our own personal needs, whatever they may be, and realize that we, too, deserve to be the recipient of self-love, in a way that transcends a specific time of year, money or tangible “presents”. Each and every day of our lives, we should be giving ourselves (as well, as others), positive affirmations for the goodness we possess and/or aspire to, for the talents and skills we possess, that work toward enriching our own lives and existence, as well as those of others, and we should remember to “feed our spirit’”, in the ways that make us feel most valued, most appreciated, most fulfilled, within ourselves. For each individual, the list of gifts we bestow upon ourselves may vary, in many ways, while remaining constant, in others. It is our responsibility to discover the distinct needs we each have, through daily self-reflection, meditation, prayer or whatever means in which we connect deeply and meaningfully to our inner selves: our spirits. This is a lifelong endeavor, as our needs will change, in part, due to our life circumstances. If we make a conscious effort to always seek connection to ourselves, as we do to others, we will be giving and receiving a gift, that will be more priceless and more lasting than any offering we could ever hope to make! |
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20 lucky winners will win $500 each in prizes totaling $10,000. 