Merry Christmas to all my family, friends, associates, coworkers, neighbors and strangers.
There are few times in your life that a day, season or event will soften your heart. Some look at the season as stressful. Never smiling, striving to find that perfect gift worried it won’t be enough.
Stop.
Just stop.
Breathe. Smile. Say hello or Merry Christmas to everyone that walks by. Drop some change in the Salvation Army kettle, choose an Angel from the tree. Slow down and enjoy a cup of coffee and watch people come and go. Take time to enjoy the season and the reason you celebrate the holiday.
Stop worrying if your daughter will love that baby doll, or your teen will be upset you can’t afford that iPhone. They will not remember minor disappointments when they are older, they will remember you getting excited over the finger painting they gave you, and how you proudly hung it for everyone to see all year long. They will remember your family traditions of hot cocoa and cookies before bed Christmas Eve. Traditions they may carry on with their own little families.
You’ve raise your children to appreciate the fact someone took the time to choose a gift for them, thought about them and gave them a token of their love. Love the gift or not, they say thank you and get excited.
We do not have little ones living at home, and have to wait to see the excited faces of grandkids opening gifts now. The greatest gift for me is all year. Spending snippets of time with my grand babies, watching them grow up and having conversations with them. Watching my children raising their families.
Making memories.
This puts the joy in my holidays and in my life all year long.
So stop.
Breathe
And enjoy the wonders of your life.
Merry Christmas and Happy Living my friends.
Lorene Wood 2017