I love the feeling of this time of year. I watched a clip from the "Honeymooners" where Ralph Kramden talks about how people seem happier during the holidays (google it.....it is worth the watch).
It always make me sad when it is time to put everything away for another year. Due to heading back to work Tuesday, we took the decorations down yesterday. The house always looks so bare and dull.
Last year, I toyed with the idea of keeping the big tree up all year, I was quite surprised at how many people said "do it!". Since we sold the house in August, I guess I was right to pack it up around New Year's Day. I don't think a Christmas tree on display would have been a big selling point while the house was on the market.
So here I sit on a new location and once again I was trying to decide.....keep it up or put it away?? In the end, I caved and the tree is now packed away. Since I do not know many people in my new location, I felt keeping the big tree up might seem strange as I invite new neighbors into my home. It would require me explaining that I am a writer and I wanted to write about what it is like to have my Christmas tree up for 365 days if not more.
I did decide to leave out the small ceramic tree in my bedroom. I will light it each night and fall asleep to the glow of the small bulbs. Maybe next year for the big tree......we will see.
While packing away the decorations, I really took a lot of time examining the ornaments that hung on the tree. In November, I had gone through the four tubs...yes, four tubs of ornaments trying to decide which should go on the tree and which would just stay packed away. I didn't pray over each ornament when I was deciding if it was going to make the cut or spend Christmas still packed away. Ornaments such as the Popsicle reindeer Jenn made in kindergarten stayed in the tub along with the pine cone decorated with glitter or any of the family ornaments that were bought when there were three of us.
As I examined each ornament last night, I started taking pictures of the ones that best describe me and saw a recurring them and you could definitely tell my likes, desires and dreams.
When you are putting up the tree you might talk about an ornament here or there that brings back a memory but I didn't really take the time to examine and think about why some were chosen over others. As I packed them away, it became infinitely clear why I made my choices. I think you will agree as I share them with you......
My loves:
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| love lighthouses |
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| of course cheese made the list |
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| more time to write....get published?? |
My Realities:
My goals for next year:
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| well maybe not this dress but continued focus on improved health, weight and exercise |
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| self-explanatory |
I am going to try and be like Scrooge after the visits from the 3 Spirits.....I am going to work to keep Christmas in my heart not just from Thanksgiving through Christmas but all the year through. I have seen dreams come true this year and Chapter Three finally in action. I have also felt the pain of endings and am seeking peace in my decisions.
Merry Christmas!!! I really have until January 6th (Little Christmas) to say this and still be in the season......also now I can say it since I am going to try and feel it everyday (thank you Mr. Dickens!!).
As 2017 ends, I think I have come out of this year a better person than I was when the year started.
Happy New Year!!!!
I hope that 2018 brings all of you good health, much happiness and love.....for in the end isn't love all that matters??
See you next week....or maybe tomorrow as we start a new book with 12 chapters and 365 pages.....
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