Holiday Cheer

Just ask my husband and he'll tell you that my attitude is equal to Ebenezer Scrooge's at Christmas time. It's not that I don't appreciate the spirit of the holiday, it's just that it is such a stressful time of year when you have literally 22 people in your family to buy gifts for.

Add in the crowds, the traffic, the headache of figuring out what to get everyone, how stressed Matt is from work every year at this time, and just the all around business of the season, and yeah, you're damn right it wears on me and doesn't make me excited. I don't mean to sound like a total Grinch or imply I want to eliminate presents or toys. Getting someone something perfect I know they'll love makes me very happy. I enjoy coming up with thoughtful, meaningful, sentimental gifts. Year after year, person after person though? Not possible, and it just starts to feel somewhat wasteful to buy buy buy.

If you take out the obligation of needing material gifts for your loved ones there are so many moments of goodness and kindness to focus on. Like watching a woman bring coffee to construction workers outside in the cold. Or hearing stories of volunteers helping the underprivileged or sick. Or your neighbors knocking on your door to give you a treat and say thank you for being good neighbors. Or today, when I went up to lunch at school with Natalie, and the middle school choir came in and sang Christmas carols. Natalie and I sang along and danced in our seats and it was so wonderful watching the innocent faces of the kids light up.

I have so much to be thankful for at Christmas and every day of the year.  I have food on the table and a roof over my head. I love my neighbors, friends, and family and am lucky to have them all. I do enjoy and appreciate the simple, happy pleasures that only December seems to incite. The lights and the singing, the giving and the sharing, the overall warmth and good nature of people at this time.

I hope you have a merry Christmas and that you are surrounded with love like I am so fortunate to be.