scent of cedar
New Member
Merry Christmas!
:O)
Understanding that the feeling of fullness, of happiness, that Christmas brings is a matter of the heart...which are the family traditions that bring the most joy? Everyone is so down on the idea of making it all about gifts (me, too), but lately, I have been wishing for that sense of wonder and impending gratitude those wrapped presents used to bring.
I am trying to go from the heart out to create this year's celebration.
Baking and sending cookies ~ this always truly gives pleasure.
Special Christmas Eve Feast of the Seven Fishes. Buying and cooking and serving traditional foods brings so many special memories, too.
Decorating the house...I had almost decided not to decorate, this year. It doesn't feel the same, is what I told myself. But here's the thing: the feeling of Christmas, that sort of magical fullness and happiness we can create in our homes and for our families doesn't have to depend on what's gone on through the year. It can be a time for gratitude, for reflecting on all the good things we do have if we go about it intentionally.
I don't know why this imagery came to me, but it's like buying fresh strawberries. When you haven't eaten them all and they are no longer so fresh and plump and beautiful...you can still make strawberry jam out of them. And, if you share the jam, if you send it to all the people who are so far away from you, that package of berries goes on bringing joy for a really long time.
:O)
Looks like I will be making and sending strawberry jam, this year. I think there is still time. I will do each of the steps of creating and sending the jam with deep intention.
And that will make Christmas, for me.
And just thinking about this has fired the excitement of decorating, after all.
How are you focusing intent, this year?
Cedar
:O)
Understanding that the feeling of fullness, of happiness, that Christmas brings is a matter of the heart...which are the family traditions that bring the most joy? Everyone is so down on the idea of making it all about gifts (me, too), but lately, I have been wishing for that sense of wonder and impending gratitude those wrapped presents used to bring.
I am trying to go from the heart out to create this year's celebration.
Baking and sending cookies ~ this always truly gives pleasure.
Special Christmas Eve Feast of the Seven Fishes. Buying and cooking and serving traditional foods brings so many special memories, too.
Decorating the house...I had almost decided not to decorate, this year. It doesn't feel the same, is what I told myself. But here's the thing: the feeling of Christmas, that sort of magical fullness and happiness we can create in our homes and for our families doesn't have to depend on what's gone on through the year. It can be a time for gratitude, for reflecting on all the good things we do have if we go about it intentionally.
I don't know why this imagery came to me, but it's like buying fresh strawberries. When you haven't eaten them all and they are no longer so fresh and plump and beautiful...you can still make strawberry jam out of them. And, if you share the jam, if you send it to all the people who are so far away from you, that package of berries goes on bringing joy for a really long time.
:O)
Looks like I will be making and sending strawberry jam, this year. I think there is still time. I will do each of the steps of creating and sending the jam with deep intention.
And that will make Christmas, for me.
And just thinking about this has fired the excitement of decorating, after all.
How are you focusing intent, this year?
Cedar