Time to let go because if I don't I'll lose myself in the process. I'm in danger of forgetting what the holidays and life are all about. What matters is doing the best we can to practice true loving kindness, a genuine desire to act in pursuit of the others' happiness.

As an exploding body of clinical research confirms that mindfulness helps reduce stress and promote healing, learning and neuroplasticity, a parallel line of study on the practice of loving-kindness has begun to converge with exciting new research on positive emotions and the brain.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if instead of shocking us, kindness was just plain regular, something we all shared and spread around freely, and that we all took time to celebrate along the way?

We become fearless only when we can turn fear around and face it, get to know it, release resistance to it, and open our hearts.

Sitting quietly enables us to go beyond our limited self and enter into a great spaciousness. We assure you, it's the greatest gift you can give yourself!

Which is more important to you in your relationships -- to be kind or to control?

Kindness is an overlooked personality trait. When speaking of our ideal partners, people talk about intelligence, looks, you name it. Kindness is often at the bottom of the list. But when you think about it, isn't kindness what we humans desire most of all?

Instead of reflexively renewing your vows or divorcing your scale once and for all, ask yourself, "Has weighing in done more to help or hinder my healthiest intentions?"

Everyone loses touch with their aspiration, and we need the heart to return to what we really care about. All of this is based on developing greater lovingkindness and compassion.

While romantic love can be intoxicating and ever so delicious, there is a deeper kind of love that bars no participants.

When we bear witness, we lovingly give our attention to the other without judgment. When we allow another to bear witness to us, we give ourselves the freedom to be known.

While the acts may be directed toward anonymous people or animals, the person's act of kindness is anything but random -- it is deliberate and directional -- non-random in nature.

Why all the snarkiness? Sounding cranky never got any kid more dessert or a later bedtime so why do so many women activists feel the need to be so irritable?

Loving kindness has become my secret weapon of choice, for all the times when life gets a bit rough.