Workshop to focus on improving Advent

Those who want to savor the Advent season have the opportunity to learn how by participating in a Dec. 1 workshop titled, "The Art of Living an Advent Lifestyle."

The workshop is being offered by the diocesan Consultation Center in Albany, which provides counseling services and educational programs. Ellen Howie, a spiritual director and registered nurse, will lead the event.

About 15 years ago, Mrs. Howie said she noticed that people seemed to be more frantic during the month of December than at other times of the year. She, too, felt overwhelmed by all of the things she had to do in order to get ready for Christmas.

As a healthcare professional and spiritual director, she decided she needed to make changes. "I wanted to model the behaviors that I wanted others to enjoy," Mrs. Howie explained. Her first step was looking at all of the things she was doing in December. She decided to change or eliminate some tasks - "to simplify things," she said.

The changes not only reduced her holiday preparations, but helped her to become more aware of Christmas throughout the year. They improved her finances, reduced her stress and provided spiritual enrichment.

Now, Mrs. Howie does her Christmas shopping before Thanksgiving, sends out a holiday letter in November rather than December and finds a charity to support for Christmas.

Those changes weren't easy. For example, Mrs. Howie comes from a tradition of doing a lot of baking for Christmas. She realized that wasn't healthy for her and that she always ended up stressing about her weight, so she decided to give up baking.

Her husband was disappointed, so he decided to take up baking. Fifteen years later, he is still baking cookies and enjoying it.

While Mrs. Howie gave up baking, she took on something else during Advent: A voracious reader, she decided that she would read one spiritual book during Advent. Her goal was to savor it, reread it and meditate on it.

Those who participate in her workshop will hear how others celebrate Advent, reflect on Advent in their own lives and decide on changes to make.

They will be encouraged to decide on a tradition they would like to keep, something they to let go of, a way to share with others, something new to do, and something simple. During the workshop, participants will also make a mandala - a circular diagram used in many religious traditions for meditating - to remind them of the changes they are making for Advent.

To register, send a check for $12 to Consultation Center, 790 Lancaster St., Albany, NY 12203 or visit www.rcda.org/Offices/consultation_center.

(11-26-09)