A Year in Review

I never really understood the whole New Year's thing. For me, it feels more like New Year's in September when I go back to school. It is then when I make resolutions to be more organized, pay more attention to my students needs, or just be a better person in general. So when I hear everyone talk about this stuff now, I can't get in on it. In a lot of ways, it's just another day. However, since everyone is looking back on 2010, I can't help but be a little reflective.

When I think back to where I was exactly one year ago, and where I am now, I'm at opposite ends of the world. This year started awful. I felt hopeless and depressed and didn't think my life would go anywhere. Cool Mama and I were talking one day in the beginning of the year and we decided the mantra for 2010 would be "Fuck it." I let go of all the pain and let myself become a leaf in the wind...go where ever life takes me. It was probably the hardest thing for someone like me to do, and it wasn't easy, but damn my life took a drastic turn. And here I am, exactly where I wanted to be. I'm happy with who I am, in love and dedicated to all of my jobs. I'm excited to see what comes next! Most importantly, I have relinquished control of my future, and I am truly following whatever path life takes me on. I am balanced and whole.

Yesterday Cool Mama asked me what the mantra for 2011 will be. That's a tough one. I may have to get back to you all on that. I want to say something like "Keep the Zen Going," but I think I can come up with something better. In the meantime, I hope you all have a Happy New Year and drink responsibly tonight!

Post Christmas Blues

Does anyone else get sad the first few days after Christmas? I sure do. Cried my eyes out to Shutterbug the other day...and all I could say is "Christmas is over."

But is it?

There are technically 12 days of Christmas. AND let's not forget the Wise Men coming on January 3rd. So why does everything 'shut off' on December 26th? I guess companies have decided to stop conning you into buying things, and don't want to pump the 'Christmas Spirit' into your head in order to get you to SHOP SHOP SHOP!!!

The depressing part of this is many of us all buy into this. I was out and about yesterday, and already saw Christmas trees at the curb. Why do we spend over a month preparing for something and then try our hardest to forget it even happened the next day? We have this opportunity to keep the holidays going and yet we are so quick to 'go back to normal.' But when you think about it, what are we doing that is abnormal? Spending more time with family? Embracing the spirit of giving? Making and partaking in traditions? Baking? Cooking more meals with love?

Why can't we do that all year round?

So here's my request. Next year (even this year since we still have 6 days of Christmas left) partake in ONE holiday-ish thing every day for the 12 days of Christmas. Shutterbug and I have decided to plan that out for next year.

Merry Christmas is Not for Everyone

Is this not the cutest picture of my nephew??? Adore that kid!

As I sit enjoying the sounds of the Charlie Brown Christmas album, sipping a Gingerbread coffee and taking in all that is Christmas, I can't help but think of those who find Christmas to be a sad time of year. Not everyone finds this holiday a time to rejoice. For some it reminds them that they are poor, alone or neglected. Let us all remember those who are less forntuante than we are, and be thankful that we can rejoice and be glad on this holiday.

Every year on Christmas Eve night, my father leaves ONE candle lit in the front window as a sign that all are welcome to come and stay for shelter. Let us all leave a candle lit tonight, if not to invite those who need shelter, but to remember and pray for those who will not wake up to joy and cheer tomorrow. May it be a symbol that they are not alone....

I hope all my readers (if there are any left!) have the BEST Christmas ever and are surrounded by love.

Christmas Is A Feeling....

I have successfully managed to NOT enter one mall this Christmas. Nor I do I know what the hottest gift is this year. I'm quite proud of this.

Why?

I have decided this year I will be celebrating the REAL meaning of Christmas- family, friends, traditions and the birth of our Lord. I am so disenchanted with the cars ads, the jewelry ads...most of us cannot afford to buy our loved ones ANY of those things, and yet somehow we feel guilty when we don't buy lavish gifts for the ones we love. It makes me angry. When I buy gifts, I think of WHO I'm buying for, and try to find a gift that most represents that person. A gift that shows "I'm paying attention to you!" Perhaps my vision isn't the 'right way' though...I KNOW there are people out there who demand expensive gifts at Christmas; who do everything in their power to keep up with the Jones'. I was once married to a family who had spending limits and whose getting what decided by October.

I wish Christmas was like my image of it in the past could be- caroling, baking cookies, dancing around the living room to Bing Crosby, innocent excitement for 'the coming.' However, I guess that's a world we don't live in anymore. I'm going to embrace it as my world. Christmas is going to continue to be what I've always known it to be...wondrous and full of love and giving.

I'm going leave you with a thought as the birth of our Lord gets near. It comes from a book called 'From Holidays to Holydays.' It's written by a priest in Newark who uses Newark at Christmas as an analogy for Advent and the coming of Christ. He writes for the Friday of the Second Week:

"But the scene on the corner shows no traces of wealth, power, or fame. It portrays instead just a poor couple who had to put their baby to bed on straw and whose visitors were some scruffy shepherds from a nearby hillside. Crossing West Market Street I pray to the infant of Bethlehem that everyone who looks at Father Phil's nativity scene might see the beautiful message it bears: the the kingdom of God will be built not of power, wealth, or fame, but of humble, self-giving love-something that is within the reach of each of us."

What if Jesus was really born of wealth, power or fame? I doubt there'd be a Christmas if He was....