Christmas
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Believe
“We were dreamers not so long ago. But one by one, we all had to grow up. When it seems the magic slipped away, We find it all again on Christmas day.” ~from “Believe” by Glen Ballard and Alan Silvestri Everything they say about seeing Christmas through a child’s eyes is true — but I’d nearly forgotten. Now that there’s a small boy in my life again, I’ve been rereading The Polar Express (two times in one night this week) and rediscovering the magic of flying reindeer and jingling sleigh bells. Chris Van Allsberg’s award-winning picture book was published the year my son was born (1985) and was a holiday…
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The gift of your attention
“Nothing you can give will ever be more appreciated than your sincere, focused attention—your full presence. Truly being with someone, and listening without a clock and without anticipation of the next event, is the ultimate compliment.” ~Marc Chernoff, Marc & Angel Hack Life This week, I’ve been preoccupied with last-minute holiday shopping. Should I bring a dessert or an appetizer to a Christmas Eve party? What about hostess gifts? Should I buy something else for our Christmas morning brunch? Did I forget to treat a friend? And do I have enough presents for my three-year-old grandson who also has a birthday this week? Then I ran across today’s quote —…
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How to manage holiday grief and loss
“The holiest of all holidays are those kept by ourselves in silence and apart; the secret anniversaries of the heart.” ~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow The winter holidays are in full swing. But if you’re grieving a loss, the festivities only amplify your pain and shine a light on the empty chair or chairs around your table. My column today in The Sunday Oakland Press offers tips on how to get through the holiday when you don’t feel like celebrating. I invited several therapists and grief counselors to share advice for everyone who’s mourning a loss this season. The column — “Empty Chairs at Christmas” — runs in the Homefront section…
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More stuff?
“Keep only those things that speak to your heart. Then take the plunge and discard all the rest. By doing this, you can reset your life and embark on a new lifestyle.” ~Marie Kondo, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up We spend the month of December buying and accumulating …. more stuff. Why? Because our Christmas tradition requires that we encircle a tree with all sorts of things that ultimately end up getting stuffed in a drawer or stashed on a shelf that’s already loaded with … more stuff! Oh, the irony. Come January, when the buying spree stops and the decorations come down, everyone will complain about the dearth…
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Christmas cards
“There’s nothing nicer than unexpected appreciation. If you’re grateful, get a pen.” ~Helen Ellis Some people tell me they don’t bother writing or mailing Christmas cards anymore. Social media is an easier way to send greetings without paper, ink, or postage. (I’ll admit there were years when I got lazy and mailed cards only to those who sent one to me.) The pandemic totally changed my mind. After months of isolation, I enjoyed reaching out to others through the mail — one of the few tangible ways I could. During lockdown, I also had extra time to make Christmas cards using my own photos, which I thoroughly enjoyed. More than…
