Determined to make this Christmas season one of the best and filled with Warmth, Laughter, Love, JOY, Enjoyment, Smiles and Adventures - devoid of stress (it is possible?), far removed from worry, pressure, expectations and all such ugliness that sucks the life out of the REASON for the SEASON.
In years past the pressures and expectations were so harsh and so high that I could never hope to live up to them, so that by the time Christmas Eve rolled around I was despising the holiday and so ready for it to be over - stick me with a fork - I was DONE! I was at boiling point and not enjoying the season - wearing a fake smile and just hoping to survive it.
However, this year, I'm calling the shots and I want to revive the SPIRIT of the Season; the childlike innocence, the beauty, the magic, the surprise, the truth of it, the warmth, and restore the LOVE for Christmas!
So, at the start of the season, I took my son to pick out a tree (a real one!) at a tree lot. I gave him the budget and let him choose the perfect Douglas fir. Advising from a short distance, encouraging him to look for girth, color (green, not brown), and resilience in the needles (spongy, not dry and crisp). We then asked for the bottom to be trimmed to allow for nutrients and water to be readily absorbed so that the tree stays greener, longer (here's to hoping it makes it until Dec. 31st without turning brown). We also bought a bottle of nutrients to add to the water and a tree stand for it. Next we shoved it into my SUV and then went back into the store to pick out decor as it filled up my car with a spicy fir scent reminding us of a fresh pine forest.
Heading back into the store, I said, "You pick out the decorations and decide the color and accents - do you want plaid with red, green, and silver or maybe blue/silver or all white? What theme do you want?" He thought carefully and said, "Red with Silver Accents!" And he headed off down the aisles with an excitement in his step as he carefully chose ornaments, lights, ribbon, bulbs, and decorations - his eyes lit up as he grabbed each item.
Arriving home, we cranked up the Spotify Christmas Playlist, changed into
our Christmas onesies (me as Rudolph and he as a dragon), warmed up a pot of steaming hot cocoa piled high with whipped cream and sprinkled with the many colors of the season (red bulbs, green dots, silver stars), and freshly baked sugar cookies straight out of the oven.
The innocence of the season has returned. This is just the beginning.
Comments