According to the creators of the book series that bears the same name, Chicken Soup for the Soul Day was created as “…. a celebration of who you are, where you’ve been, where you’re going, and who you will be thankful to when you get there!”

Now, to me, that sounds healing, nurturing, and affirming. November 12^th has been declared as the day to celebrate you…for any reason at all!  It seems that in addition to Bubbe’s recipe claiming to cure the flu or a cold, chicken soup may accomplish much more than feeding the tummy; it can feed your soul, too, if you are open to its underlying message.

At this time of year, it is common for us to contemplate our “year in review”, so to speak.  Who did we wish to be at this juncture in 2014? What steps did we take to accomplish this?  In what new direction might we head over the coming months, and who will accompany us on the journey?

Fitness often tops our New Year’s Resolutions list.  Often, however, knowing the desired outcome is not necessarily concomitant with knowing the proper path that will get us there.  Most of us are well aware of where’s we’ve been, and what has not proven to be a path to success in the past.  

If you were to choose an individual, or more than one, to whom you could be thankful when a goal has been reached, would it be a difficult decision?  Step One in this process is, of course, being able to celebrate you in the here and now.  Today you acknowledge that you are a gift to yourself and the world; that’s why it is called “the present”.   You know where you wish to travel, especially in the health and fitness realm.  Who shall become your tour guide? 

Taking positive steps toward self-improvement is akin to treating your soul to a bowl of steaming-hot chicken soup.  With every swallow, imagine that those healing powers of the potion are entering your very essence, curing “The Blues” of perhaps not being where you ultimately wish to be, and empowering you to know your self-worth.  You, whom we celebrate today, deserve to open your soul to endless possibilities.  If it is a healthier meal plan you are seeking, this is the time to take a professional dietitian on your journey. If become physically fit is your goal, enlist the help of a Personal Trainer or knowledgeable, reliable friend. Even if becoming more highly educated is the location you wish to visit, join a book club or sign up for a continuing education class.  The other participants might just be on a similar journey, and a professor or book club leader will be happy to double as a tour guide.

Have a happy Chicken Soup for the Soul Day. Now, finish your soup…Bubbe slaved all day over a hot stove!