There is a story told of the musk deer of North India. In the springtime, the roe is haunted by the odor of musk. He runs wildly over hill and ravine with his nostrils dilating and his little body throbbing with desire, certain that around the next group of trees or bushes he will find musk, the object of his quest. Then at last he falls, exhausted, with his little head resting on his tiny hoofs, only to discover that the odor of musk was in his own hide.

Kirk Byron Jones, author of Addicted to Hurry: Spiritual Strategies for Slowing Down, (Judson Press, 2003, www.judsonpress.com)says, "During the holiday season many of us run ourselves ragged in search of fulfillment that is closer to us than we think." Jones offers the following five strategies for relishing the inner riches of the season:

1. Begin With Peace. Start your day with meditation, prayer, journaling or other peacemaking activities.

2. Plan Breaks. Don't overdose on over commitment. Schedule times for playing, reflecting, and resting. Remember the advice from legendary baseball pitcher Satchel Page: "Sometimes you need to sit and think, and sometimes you need to just sit."

3. Live at a Savoring Pace. Life doesn't have to be fast to be fun. Monitor your pace as you go through your daily activities; downshift when you feel yourself becoming overly anxious and stressed. To gauge your present livng speed, take The Hurry Test at www.savoringpace.com.

4. Share Time with Loved Ones. Maybe the best gift you can give someone this year is more of you.

5. Celebrate Your Inner Wealth. Remember the story of the musk deer, and appreciate the joys and hopes that enrich your life everyday.