For years, I looked forward to the holidays with great anticipation and preparation. If you ask me why not this year, I could give you several reasons.
Janice. Thank you for sharing the poem. It really resonated with me. Letting go of traditions is really tough. Before this year I talked about it but never really tried to do something different. This year I knew that I needed to. It did me a world of good. It took all the emotional pressure and sorrow that followed away. It was strange but it didn't feel bad. I was lucky that my husband went along with it. I love Christmas lights, the tree, the ornament and the aromas... but they trigger me into depression. I can take them out of the house because they are someone else's, not mine. Next year I'm shooting for being out of the country which will make it even more strange, that's okay, for me, strange is good while breaking away from the past. Great read, I loved this one.
This was a beautiful heartfelt post Janice . The holidays seem more contrived to me as years go by and overly commercial . When there are children around there is a certain kind of magic around the occasion - and for a moment I can recapture that feeling . Now that my child is grown and living afar and family members have passed or moved away I feel we have the option to have the Christmas that feels right for the times . This is the first year I bought no gifts and had a simple dinner with my partner . Redefining the occasion and revamping it was liberating and not buying into what” it was supposed to be “ was wonderful . I’m
Sure you will find a path to celebrating Christmas your way next year!
Hi Heather, That is the point, I think - finding a way to celebrate that is meaningful to me. The joy of this Christmas season was spending time with my almost two-year old great-granddaughter.
I loved Christmas when my children were young. Now they are grown and we have had family tragedy I don’t enjoy it at all. It just seems like a big commercial grab now. Thanks for sharing your experience. I agree it’s good to get it all over with so now we can get on with life.
Hi Jennifer, I'm so sorry to hear of your family tragedy - and send you virtual hugs. Christmas is just not the same - the music, the focus, the magic. Maybe I need to find a way to make it meaningful - based on what is true for me now. IDK what that looks like yet.
For years, I looked forward to the holidays with great anticipation and preparation. If you ask me why not this year, I could give you several reasons.
Janice. Thank you for sharing the poem. It really resonated with me. Letting go of traditions is really tough. Before this year I talked about it but never really tried to do something different. This year I knew that I needed to. It did me a world of good. It took all the emotional pressure and sorrow that followed away. It was strange but it didn't feel bad. I was lucky that my husband went along with it. I love Christmas lights, the tree, the ornament and the aromas... but they trigger me into depression. I can take them out of the house because they are someone else's, not mine. Next year I'm shooting for being out of the country which will make it even more strange, that's okay, for me, strange is good while breaking away from the past. Great read, I loved this one.
Hi Patti, That sounds like a good plan, it seems as if we do need to break away from the past. The poem really resonated with me as well.
This was a beautiful heartfelt post Janice . The holidays seem more contrived to me as years go by and overly commercial . When there are children around there is a certain kind of magic around the occasion - and for a moment I can recapture that feeling . Now that my child is grown and living afar and family members have passed or moved away I feel we have the option to have the Christmas that feels right for the times . This is the first year I bought no gifts and had a simple dinner with my partner . Redefining the occasion and revamping it was liberating and not buying into what” it was supposed to be “ was wonderful . I’m
Sure you will find a path to celebrating Christmas your way next year!
Hi Heather, That is the point, I think - finding a way to celebrate that is meaningful to me. The joy of this Christmas season was spending time with my almost two-year old great-granddaughter.
I loved Christmas when my children were young. Now they are grown and we have had family tragedy I don’t enjoy it at all. It just seems like a big commercial grab now. Thanks for sharing your experience. I agree it’s good to get it all over with so now we can get on with life.
Hi Jennifer, I'm so sorry to hear of your family tragedy - and send you virtual hugs. Christmas is just not the same - the music, the focus, the magic. Maybe I need to find a way to make it meaningful - based on what is true for me now. IDK what that looks like yet.