I am not traveling this year, so I won’t be spending the holiday with all of my near and dear relatives. My mother passed away three years ago, and I still haven’t gotten used to the emptiness I feel, as I miss her so profoundly, especially at Christmas. I am broker than broke, and I will be toning down my Christmas shopping in a major way. (There are a lot of people who will be getting homemade presents this year!).
So then what am I so happy about? What on earth has brought about this change?
Somehow I have found a newfound sense of appreciation, which has helped bring some of the Christmas magic back.
I look forward to my children’s growing anticipation with every day, and lots of Christmastime snuggles, and decorating the tree, and baking Christmas cookies, and watching the holiday specials on TV, all with them. I can’t wait for another pretty snowfall. And for tinsel and candy canes. And for Charlie Brown. Most of all, I can’t wait to see the joy and wonderment on my children’s beautiful faces as Christmas approaches.
Christmas means so many different things to different people. It isn’t a happy time of the year for everyone. As I have gotten older, I now understand why. But being a parent gives you a second chance to relive your best Christmas memories, and to make it even better for your children than what you had as a kid. And I’m not talking about presents, either. Instead, I’m talking about really being mindful and present and cherishing your family, because time does not stand still.
