Sentimental memories of the past surface, having us reminiscing of a time when we gathered to bring in Christmas. This year is different as we follow the guidelines and postpone all get-togethers. Celebrations with family, friends, business associates, and colleagues will sadly not take place. There will be no functions to attend, no concerts, and no impromptu visits. No travel. There will be no Christmas Eve candlelit services. No running around to small businesses for last-minute gifts and stocking stuffers. And no fretting over every minute detail. Period. End of story. This is where I can leave this post. But I won’t. Instead of focusing on what this Christmas won’t be, let’s focus on the other aspects. Like choosing to enjoy the simple things in life.
Here’s to the moments when you realize the simple things are wonderful and enough.
A SMALL SACRIFICE
Christmas will be different. Accept it, that I did. I see it as a small sacrifice. Even though it will be much quieter, there are things I will still enjoy, such as baking, Christmas movies, the glittering lights, the Christmas tree, and the warm glow of the fireplace. I will relish traditional Christmas meals as the Christmas music plays softly in the backdrop. We will toast to the many blessings and look forward to the upcoming new year. There are social platforms where we can briefly come together virtually to wish everyone a happy, safe, and tranquil Christmas.
ENJOY THE SIMPLE THINGS
Inner peace is not something to be found but something to be created! By enjoying the simple things of life, you can easily create a peaceful mind!”
There’s so much to be thankful for. In gratitude, we can count our many blessings. We will have a renewed appreciation for the people we have in our lives. And we will be grateful for the simple pleasures, the warmth of home, and our freedom to create something special, something different. With a little adaptation, we can still enjoy a time unlike any other. Whether you have a large family living together, coupled, or on your own, you can still create an exceptional lighthearted Christmas.
THE THINGS WE TAKE FOR GRANTED
Why not take joy in the simple things? The twinkling lights that grace our homes and the crisp winter air that nips at our cheeks and snatches our breath. Marvel at the glaze of frost as it clings to everything it touches. Note the tree branches sway to the rhythm of the breeze as it catches each limb. Observe a gust of wind as it whips up the snow. Witness steam as it swirls from a mug of hot chocolate. Savor the aroma of peppermint as you gently stir the marshmallows with a candy cane. Ever grateful for so many things we can simply take for granted.
It’s the simple things in your life that make up the bulk of it. The mundane is where we live and we end up missing most of it. We find it again in the silence and in attention of everyday life.
A FLICKER OF HOPE
This year, more so than any other, had me looking fondly at everything in my life. We believe things will always stay the same. But something out of the ordinary happens that reminds us this isn’t so. It takes us to where we have no choice but to face our new reality for the time being. Yet, in the midst of it all, there remains a flicker of hope.
It’s through acceptance, through surrendering we acknowledge what is. A feeling, a knowing that this too shall pass. In our hearts, we gather strength, aware that this is where peace and contentment live. We take pleasure in both the simplicity and the complexity of life. Even when the storms roll in, we know in time, they will roll out. And with every sacrifice, whether big or small, we continue to trust that in time we will enjoy an even better Christmas with those we love. One that will make up for the one we lost.