Show kindness to people, and yourself ? Elder says

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First of all, I want to say "Happy New Year" to everyone!

It seems that as our world speeds up faster and faster, it's important to take time to be quiet with ourselves. I know you probably don't need anyone to tell you how important it is to slow down and take care of yourself every once in a while, but I'm reminding you to actually do it now and then.

When I was young, even in the residential school when I was getting the strap as a punishment, while it was happening I would go to a special place in my mind. I would listen to the water running, and hear the leaves rustling in the wind. I felt the sun on my face as I sat on a rock there by the water.

Well, pretty soon the punishment was over and I didn't feel so bad. I'm suggesting you can do this kind of thing when it seems like things are getting bad around you.

Show kindness to people. Jealousy is our worst enemy. If someone is doing good and getting somewhere in life, be proud of them. Don't say to yourself "Well, I do just as much as him or her. Why am I not being acknowledged?" In the old days, we did everything together as one people. So, be happy that someone is putting our Aboriginal people in a good light.

When you're being kind, often it's in the little things you do for someone that mean the most. You don't even need them to know it was you who left them a little gift or did some task for them. Our people have always been humble and it's good not always to expect something in return for everything we do. Even if you think no one sees you do a good deed, the Creator sees you.

For parents of children and teens, try to encourage them. They are our future. Believe in them. Tell them the Creator lives in them, so why would they want to do anything unhealthy to their bodies? If they need to be disciplined, discipline them, but don't hold a grudge about it. Be kind and loving after you think they've learned their lesson.

Don't live in the past. Learn how to forgive and move on.

It's also good if you can just spend time being quiet with your family. Today we are plugged into cell phones, music, televisions ? everything. Every week it's nice to spend quiet time being together. Even if someone's being fidgety, they'll calm down after a while.

One thing I'm going to ask of you is: do you think this year you could visit someone you haven't seen for a while? Can you visit them for no reason at all? Maybe you can have tea with them and enjoy a little talk about old times. Maybe you don't have to say much at all. Just be with them and let them know you care about them.

If you have problems, and you don't feel you can find any peace, you can always be quiet and pray to the Creator to help you with your problems. You can do this anytime, even if you're on the bus, for example, and you see a fellow passenger looking sad or angry. You don't have to say anything to him or her. Just, in your mind, ask the Creator to help that person, and then, maybe in a while you'll see how that person's body language has changed. Maybe you'll notice that they seem to be feeling a bit better.

Finally, spend time with children. They'll make you happy. And give lots of hugs. In some schools it's not okay to hug. But, I say, everybody needs a hug now and then. It feels good.