Beautiful colors, shimmering lights, festive activities with the sounds and smells of the holiday season!
There is the hustle and bustle of creating our space to reflect our traditions and our inner most memories and feelings of the season. Add in creation of our own traditions blended and intertwined with our past memories and experiences.
While each of us creates our own holiday space it is impossible not to think of our memories as children. Oh the laughter, fun and memories of holidays gone by along with the recent memories each of us has created as adults or perhaps with our own families.
The marketing aspect of the holidays seems to lengthen the time of year which shines a light on this season.
A light that for some is painful and not appreciated as their spirit is still and quiet. There can be many reasons for the lack of enthusiasm for celebrating the Holiday Season. Life's changes are typically a common theme.
When there is a life change, newlyweds to parents, college bound children, loss of a parent or loved one as a few examples. Our new chapter may not be comfortable may even be a little frightening or cause us sadness. The separation or sense of loss is great and may find ourselves trying to recapture or recreate to lessen the sadness or pain. Everything seems to be as tight as a ball of yarn, feeling safe with the encompassing perceived shield. But is it really? Is there really a need to be wound so tight?
Though life changes are a natural evolution it still is hard and we need to be reminded to be gentle with ourselves. Allow the emotions to rise and take action where it makes sense and is appropriate.
My mom loved Christmas, she had so many of those bright sparkling sweaters, decorated everything around her along with singing every holiday song written. She wrapped each gift with love from the time all of her children were toddlers all the way through adulthood. Each year mom would watch "It's a Wonderful Life". My mom lived her life each day as being wonderful, but during the season she was more glowing than any other time of the year. For many years I was blessed to have family in my home celebrating and creating new adult memories of family and Christmas. When my mom was killed in 2003 the magic seemed to dim. For a few years the holidays were just "going through the motions", enjoying family but there was an inner sadness.
I felt, or thought, that I needed to create just the same experience my mom and dad had created for me, for all of us. Oh what an inner struggle and disappointment when things just didn't work out the same!
Tired of disappointment and wanting to celebrate rather than recreate, I ignited my inner self and took control of this change. "Our Self is the foundation and core to all the surrounding elements that are integral to our lives- including the holidays".
Celebrating life and yes, the holidays, the focus is on the people around me, where I am and those I love. Celebrating and Creating new traditions, new experiences, cooking different foods. Oh most definitely celebrating the memories and all those who helped create such memories that are strong and withstand time.
Is everything perfect or as I planned? Absolutely not, but it is perfect in how it is allowed to unfold! Just the perfect memory with sometimes a lot of laughter, rolling eyes and a whole lot of fun!
Time to me now to remind you to love yourself, release all fears, loosen up the twine that is tightly wrapped.
and begin to live in the "day", appreciating what is within and around you and to begin to create loving and precious memories each living day!
"An Action executed Today, Creates Memories for a Life-time" Cindy lake
During the remainder of the preparation for the upcoming holiday, may each day expand the joy of appreciating self, those around us and sharing the expression of love and gentle spirit.
excerpts taken from Double Stixs ™ : The Nourishment and Gift of Change pages 25-31
available by clicking the resource tab or also at:
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