Living with this pandemic during the upcoming holiday season, is going to challenge even the best and most optimistic of us.
I know I tried to look for creative ways to be positive this past Easter.
Then, I see the difficulties everyone has when trying to celebrate any special event among families and friends such as birthdays, weddings, and funerals. Trying to get all the pieces of the puzzle to fit AND be in line with masking, distancing, hand-washing, inside vs. outside, and staying away from huge crowds, can be daunting.
Even more so, what if you have to travel to see your family and friends so you can celebrate?
Should you drive? Should you fly? Does your family and/or friends even want company?
And then there is the huge question that looms for many, are you even allowed to travel to where you want to go?
Of course these answers are going to be different for everyone.
Everything is different. Many of the events and sometimes even simple things that we've looked forward to in the past just can't be done. Or if they can be done, you may not be comfortable doing them anymore or they've become so complicated that they are too much trouble. Sometimes, it feels easier to just surrender.
I realize that there can be a luxury for me during this pandemic in being on my own. I've been daily, weekly, monthly and seasonally out of sync. Sometimes, I'm not really sure where I am in any of those time markers and it doesn't matter.
Yesterday, I began to think about the holidays. Living in the Chatette where it feels like Christmas all year long, didn't stop me from thinking about the holidays ahead and what I can do to make them more special. I could surrender or I can find my joy!
I chose JOY!
Getting ready for fall and winter, I began to clean and rearrange the Chatette.
In the process of sitting in my chair and trying to feel the place, Christmas loomed large.
Even with my manger set and tiny GIFI tree still hanging around, I could see garlands on the monster furniture and bannisters, fireplace decorations, stockings, music boxes, special lights, baking cookies, AND maybe even a bigger tree this year too! I can't forget my special Christmas dinner!
When I sit on my stairs and look down into the living room, I'm that 6 year old little girl on Christmas morning who didn't have an amazing stair case like this to hide out on and be able to "look down on Christmas!" Christmas morning will start on the staircase for me this year! Even at 66, it is still magical to me.
So, ask yourself: What makes me happy? What soothes my soul? When do I feel my best? What makes me feel good?
Don't surrender!
Find your JOY!
Happy Friday!
All of the photos in this post, were taken in Belgium when I traveled to Brussels and Ghent.
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