Tag Archives: Christmas

Let your heart be light

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If there is one thing the holidays should teach us, it’s to let our worries go.  It may only be for a few precious days while we focus on the things that are truly important, but if we can embrace that serene feeling while it is in our presence, perhaps we can carry that feeling within us for an extended period of time and not have it fizzle out with the digestion of all that turkey!

Every year it seems the stress is increased exponentially around the Christmas holidays.  The days that we get a reprieve from work are meant to be our “down time”, but the pressure and time constraints of creating our own Hallmark  holiday are overwhelming.  The influx of family from all parts of the globe, the search and rescue mission for the perfect Christmas gifts and the attempt at giving Martha Stewart a run for her money at the dinner table all compound to make the stress level reach its maximum capacity.

martha-stewart-christmas

I had the Christmas Carols gently soothing my mood the other day and I took a moment to really listen and absorb the words.  ”Have yourself a Merry little Christmas,  let your heart be light”.   That was an “a-ha” moment as Oprah would say.  That simple string of words had such a profound affect on me and I realized that it doesn’t matter if the presents I wrap look like my dog wrapped them.  Nobody is going to care if I spend Christmas day in my pajamas and my hair looks like I just removed a toque I’d been wearing for days.  The holidays are for just being, not for being perfect.

Take a moment to ask yourself what the holidays really mean to you.  Is your definition of Christmas a perfectly wrapped gift?  Or is it the precious moments when you share a laugh or a hug?  Let your heart be light, and enjoy what the holiday is really meant to represent.  If you worry too much about the perfection of the celebration, you’ll miss the beauty of the holiday.

Two words that shouldn’t be so offensive

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Today’s world is a far cry from simple.  It is a labyrinth of cultures, race, skin color and vastly different systems of belief.  It is a melting pot of strong ideals and judgements, and it is quickly becoming far less tolerant than it once was.

I happen to celebrate Christmas, and in the process of that celebration I can be heard uttering two words that, although were once mainstream, are now, by some, thought to be completely offensive.  Merry Christmas.  Two words that contain the ideals of the child I once was and now hold dear the spirit of a celebration that I embrace.

I am not a vindictive person and when I choose to verbalize those two words, I am not negating the fact that you may not celebrate this particular holiday.  I am choosing to share my love of the holiday season in my way.  I am attempting to insinuate my child-like joy into the moments of your day by choosing to wish you the best of the holiday season in a way that I learned through osmosis.  There used to be something exceptionally special about watching the joy spread by speaking those two words.  It was like watching a wave of true happiness spread from one person to the next.  Now, instead of riding that wave, it is more like treading lightly on the edge of the water, ever mindful of sharp objects in the sand.

I have felt trapped at times, wondering if I should only articulate the two words that do not seem to easily offend, but happy holidays doesn’t encapsulate the true spirit I have at this time of the year.  Sure, it may be less offensive to some, but perhaps they don’t take the time to know the feeling behind the words.  By wishing you a Merry Christmas, I am merely saying that I want you to enjoy your way of celebrating as much as I enjoy mine and somehow inject some of my cheer into your day.

So let me throw caution to the wind and impart my holiday spirit to you on this Sunday morning.  Merry Christmas to all and may the spirit of the holiday season, whatever your holiday may be, bring merriment to your smile and gladness to your heart.

Ho-ho-holy crap, it’s that time of year again!

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With the holiday season rapidly encroaching on an otherwise boring fall, it brings to mind all of my favorite holiday movies.  The familiar faces and witty vernacular that are deeply ingrained in my brain will be gracing the television screens once again.  There are a select few that are must-sees for me every year – certain stories that define my holiday experience.

Holidays, for me, are about tradition and part of my tradition revolves around curling up on the couch and indulging my penchant for movies that truly capture the essence of Christmas.   Whether they are steeped in family values, or bordering on the insane, they nonetheless reflect the true meaning of what the holiday season is meant to represent.

With Christmas a mere 41 days away, I have already begun scanning the satellite channels for the first glimpse of those timeless treasures that will shape my season of festivities.  The first on the list is always A Christmas Story.  I can’t seem to help myself.  It has truly become the staple of my Christmas holidays and a custom I hope to carry into my future.  (I bought the DVD, just in case the powers-that-be decide to take it off the air)

Other classics like Elf and Christmas Vacation play their role in my holiday bliss as well and Christmas Eve would never be the same if I didn’t watch The Sound of Music with my mom.  Although it cannot be defined as a holiday movie, it is the most important tradition of my holiday season.

My tree will soon be trimmed, the lights will be twinkling in my darkened living room and the wreath will once again find its place on my door.  A variety of Santa Claus likenesses will take their assigned spots in anticipation of having a front row seat to watch the holiday classics with me.  It truly is the most wonderful time of the year.

What are your holiday “must watch” movies?