Merry Christmas
Photo by Myki Roventine
Christmas is behind us, and I know many of you are breathing a sigh of relief. I am. We’ve built this holiday up to something way beyond its humble beginnings, and I, for one, can’t keep up with the unwritten rules and commercialism. Case in point: Our white lights never made it out of the attic to decorate the bushes. I’m finished berating myself; my toddler saw plenty of white lights.
I often feel as though I will honor Christmas in my heart when . . .Um, when everything gets done. Have you ever said this to yourself? I’ll be happy when . . . I’ll relax when . . . I’ll have fun when . . . Well, when is never soon enough. It leaves us stranded right now and denies us the beauty of the present moment. And so we spend the month of December tired, impatient, and anxious.
I felt this way on December 12, when we picked out our Christmas tree. Well, we didn’t pick it out; my husband did. I’m a wimp when it comes to the cold. So, my daughter and I sat in the car (for moral support), with the heat blaring, while Daddy got the job done. And it was just that- a job, a chore. It was something that I needed to check off of the list: Get the tree.
My thought process was this: Let’s get the tree, so we can get it home, so we can decorate it and enjoy it before it sheds everywhere. (Oh, and we will enjoy it, dammit.) I felt rushed, un-festive, and somewhat of a Grinch. Would this feeling end? Yes, but not until I made the decision to turn up the music and celebrate.
Christmas was different for me this year. Since I spent Christmas Day in southern California with my family, Santa visited NJ early, and we feasted with my in-laws and exchanged gifts on the 19th. Essentially, I celebrated two Christmases, each one different and special in its own right. One was spent in the midst of a snowstorm. The other, in the land of fake snow.
For me, Christmas has never been about the day; it’s a feeling, one that doesn’t negate to-do lists, but that allows us to find peace and joy no matter what the circumstances.
Even if you’re not religious, indulge me for a moment. Over two thousand years ago, a baby was born in a barn. A barn. This tiny baby is arguably one of the most influential figures in history. How could an evening so simple, humble, and unsanitary be so extraordinary? Was Mary stressed out because the barn didn’t have white lights? I don’t think so. It was a celebration of life, love, and family, in that very moment. Rumor has it there were three gifts. Forgive me for oversimplifying matters, but I really do believe it was that simple. Do you hear me Bloomingdale’s?
STOP what you’re doing and consider this: What if Christmas really is a feeling? What if it isn’t a day or an event? What if you woke up in the morning and wished your husband or children a “Merry Christmas,” because the most important things on your Christmas list can’t be bought? They are right there in front of you. Embrace your family. Honor the beauty of a new day. Give hugs and laugh a lot. And keep it simple. That was the intention.
May you have a happy, healthy 2010 and many Merry Christmases!
