My favourite part of the holidays is when my husband, my son and I go for a walk on Christmas Day. The streets are always so peacefully silent. This year, I imagine at least one of our cats will accompany us on our neighbourhood stroll, as often up to three of our felines regularly do, which will delight us even more. We'll note how different Christmas Day feels than any other day. What completes my vision for such a joyful walk? 'Tis a sparkly blanket of gloriously pristine snow.
Don't burst my bubble by telling me snow is unwelcome. No one can fault me for wanting a White Christmas. Even if we keep the mild temperatures and only get manageable one-foot dumps, I can't imagine having a winter without snow. How else am I going to pull my son in his sled? I personally don't enjoy cold without snow, to be completely honest. If we don't have snow by Christmas Eve, I will be doing a rain dance or something.
If we get snow, we'll pull our boy with the sled and if possible, make a snow man. At the very least, we will be making snow angels.
Usually by this time of year people have exhausted their grumbling about the snow and it's become old news. But, as the holidays fast approach, aren't we all secretly wishing for it?
I know for a fact that in this town there are plenty of grown boys with toys just waiting to rip across a field of white on their snowmobiles. They have all their gear but they can't do anything without snow.
When everything is buried and it's too cold to play outside, we naturally go within our caves and explore the inner world. For some, it's plenty of television, video games and facebooking. For others, it's bonus time with family, for sharing cuddles and laughter. My family gets more creative in winter. In fact, I always spend so much time in my garden during summer that I reserve my painting for winter months. My son often makes great strides in learning during winter and my husband often reads a number of tomes. This year we are working on enhancing guitar-playing skills among the three of us and we are hoping to get a real piano somehow into our tiny house.
Because I believe in creativity-above-all-else, I also aspire to learn how to knit, hook a rug and make things out of clay. Even if I only get better at playing the guitar, I will be happy.
Aside from the Gregorian calendar coming to an end, I think the real reason people come up with New Year's resolutions is because the holidays can - if we let them - provide us with a strong sense of clarity. We have the TIME to reflect on what matters most and we realize the impact of our daily choices.
Maybe it's just the Christmas movies, stirring sentiments within us and reminding us to prioritize. I am a bit of a softy, so I like to watch as many Christmas movies as I can. My favourite will probably always be, 'It's a Wonderful Life.' Kids, if you've never been willing to watch a black and white movie, it's one that would be worth giving a try, because Hollywood still has not been able to top it.
When we take a break from all the hustle-bustle, we can hear the songs of our hearts. We can share our talents -gifts - with our loved ones. The first Christmas I ever spent with my husband's family, I found myself at the piano as we all sang carols together. Even if it's only a yearly tradition, if anyone can accept you for 小蓝视频 rusty at an instrument, it should be your family!
No matter what your family's Christmas traditions are, the same things are important to all of us. It's not the tree or the turkey (though, for some it might just be the turkey) and it's not the gifts or the pie (though, for some). It's a feeling. Maybe it's a feeling of belonging, of unconditional acceptance. Maybe it's a feeling of appreciation for all we have. Or maybe it's the break from our normal lives, when all is silent and set-apart from the world out there. It's a gem among days.
I can't wait. I look forward to my walk. I look forward to seeing my family and catching up with those I haven't seen all year.
I also really look forward to trying to put reindeer antlers on my geriatric orange tabby cat. If that works out, maybe it will become my new favourite tradition.
