“The light reveals us to ourselves,” Anne Lamott.  There is beauty in this day, always, no matter what we believe.  I want to continue to spread a message of hope today.  My wish is that we all find our peace in ourselves so we can fulfill our purpose and be the best version of who we are.  It has always been said this day isn’t about presents.  The truth is it is about presence and understanding and connection and we can do that any day, and we need to do it every day.  There are a lot of things happening in this world right now along with our personal challenges.  These things happen—and they will always happen.  That is the nature of existence.  We ebb and flow, energy changes, we find ourselves and then have to find ourselves again.  It is the same with any journey.  No matter how dark it is, the way through is to continue forward in joy and authentic energy.  I’ve spent a lot of time in reflection lately because I’ve been looking for the light and what I’m seeing is that all I can do is be where I’m at now.  This year has been challenging in so many ways and my goal for this day was to bring forward a wonderful time for everyone because we need to celebrate together, in love and peace and hope.  That is what I always remember this time being about.

When I was a kid, Christmas and the days around it meant so much to me.  There was no concern about anything else in the world other than being together and celebrating.  I remember the work parties my Grandparents threw for the drivers in the office, the smell of cookies and cashews and drinks, running around the office with my cousin, the drivers and my dad playing cards—always a place for everything.  Christmas Eve was always spent at my dad’s parent’s house and it was more “formal” so to speak.  There was always the kid’s table and I couldn’t wait to go to the adult table.  My cousin and I were always together, counting presents, playing games, eating amazing food.  There was always a feast. We’d open presents and laugh and have some more dessert, then we’d go home and wait for Santa to come.  Christmas day began with magic, seeing all the gifts from Santa and having cinnamon rolls and French toast bake, then going to my mom’s parent’s and spending time with those cousins and aunts and uncles (this time bringing what we could of our new Christmas haul with us), we’d have another round of amazing food and open those presents and have dessert.  Then we’d go home and rest.  

The entire time was filled with light and love and hope and joy.  I’m not saying there were never frustrations—I’m learning more about that as I’ve gotten older and have been trying to balance everything to create a magic time for my son—but it always played out wonderfully.  And that joy is something I want my son to experience.  I want my entire family to enjoy that experience.  It has been a tough year for this family with losses and changes and making decisions none of us thought we would have to—at least not for a while.  There were some dark points. But I am ever so grateful we are here and able to celebrate together. Soon we will be planning for next year and putting our foot on the gas all over again—how nice it would be to do that with intention.  So, for today, focus on where we are at and what we can do.  Focus on the joy and intention of this moment.  Remember the innocence and joy and hope we felt when we were younger.  If you didn’t have that experience as a child, perhaps we can offer to be that for our children or the children around us today.  That’s a start to igniting that flame that will guide us forward and sustain us indefinitely—hopefully perpetually. Know who we are, love who we are, and be who we are so we can feel that joy always.  Take that intention moving forward with love, peace, joy, see the beauty in everything.  Be the light we need because the world needs it too; start where we are.  Start with some presence in the presents of today.

Merry Christmas