Peaceful Christmas

As a child, my favorite Christmas ornaments were birds. For some reason, I thought that birds belonged in trees and they were the perfect décor for a Christmas tree.

As an adult, my tree sports keepsake ornaments from my husband’s family and a few gifts, but otherwise, our ornaments are animals and, yes, birds.

I have long tried to make peace with the Christmas season. (See previous posts: Ready or not, here it comes, When Past and Present Collide, Generosity of Spirit, and Struggling with the Holidays) This year, I have been more successful. My husband and I saw no need to over-spend, now that our children are adults. 

I’m not serving a big holiday dinner; I’m still tired of cooking from Thanksgiving. We’re having snacks while playing family games –a gift of time we share with each other.

By releasing all the self-imposed pressures, I have been less resentful of the holiday and able to enjoy it more fully. It’s Mystic’s first Christmas, and we have enjoyed her engagement with the tree – along with the other dogs and Nami, of course.

It’s a more peaceful and enjoyable Christmas for us this year. I wish the same for all of you, too.