A Holiday Blessing For You Today, No Matter What

By

We think of Christmas as a joyous time, and strive to make it so.


But no matter our actual circumstances on December 25th, Christmas Day arrives on schedule.  It can be a desperately hard time for some people, no matter what the calendar says.  At times it has been so for me, and no doubt for you as well.


Christmas tree and lights


What do you love?


Regardless of what else is happening in our lives (or maybe especially because of what we're going through), we want to feel our spirits lift.  So I encourage you, as the holiday approaches, to consider the things that truly make your heart soar.


  • the first light of a winter sunrise
  • the crisp, clean, fresh air
  • a robin or a cardinal on a bare winter branch
  • the aromas of pumpkin pie, cinnamon, and nutmeg
  • twinkle lights on a fragrant fir tree
  • a pile of beautifully wrapped packages you've prepared to give to others
  • music!
  • smiles and laughter
  • the warmth of a quilt, a jacket, or a hug
  • firelight and candlelight

... or something else entirely!


Don't get too busy to stop and savor these things.  Slow down, breathe deeply, and take them all in.  Go stargazing, do a kindness for someone you don't know, make a phone call or write a letter.  Raise a glass to friends, family, and to those you have loved and lost.  Remember happy times, and look forward to more of them.


Peace and joy to you and yours this Christmas!


Comments

  1. Zayden WoodJanuary 4, 2022 at 3:39 AM

    Nice post. Everyone of us has forgotten to cherish these little joy.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Karen TrefzgerJanuary 4, 2022 at 10:20 AM

      Hi Zayden, and thanks for your comment. Maybe we haven't forgotten, but we get busy and distracted. A reminder is good!

      Delete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

10 Important Ways to Stay Minimalist

By
Image
Some of us declutter our homes, our schedules, our e-devices, and more – but we don't stay that way.  We're alive, so we buy and consume.  Opportunities arise, and we say yes.  A new app, streaming service, or online resource beckons, and we subscribe. It's called clutter creep , and that's the perfect name for a reason.  It sneaks in, little by little, and we barely notice at first.  Then one day we wake up and pay attention, and see that we're overloaded again. It's not a sign of failure. And it's not a signal to give up on minimalism!  It's a cue to be more intentional about our actions, and more selective in our choices. I recently took stock of my home and realized I wasn't as minimalist as I want to be.  I've added too much, and my closets, calendar, and computer reflect that.  Like auto maintenance, you neglect it at your peril, and the eventual cost may be more than you want to pay. Here's how to handle clutter creep. 10 essential mai
Read more

42 Things to Clear Out and Simplify Your Home Before Christmas

By
Image
Depending on when you're reading this, there are approximately six weeks until Christmas.  You probably have a lot of tasks and events planned for this time, so decluttering might not be high on your to-do list.  But as with any habit, decluttering consistency can yield more rewards (and longer-lasting results) that decluttering intensity.  If you only remove one of these items each day before the holiday, you'll celebrate with a lighter home and a brighter outlook, and prepare yourself for a New Year of being more satisfied with less! Find more energy and focus by spending just a few minutes each day decluttering.  Most of these categories and suggestions represent several items, so by Christmas you'll be able to remove dozens of things.  You'll feel buoyant and rejuvenated for your festivities. Start in your closet. You'll notice a big difference when you remove the following items: 1.   Clothes that are irreparably stained, torn, stretched, and/or faded. 2.   Cl
Read more

10 Myths to Ignore on Your Minimalist Journey

By
Image
In our consumerist society, the pressure to accumulate more and more can be intense.  With styles and fads and TikTok memes constantly changing, you might fear that if you don't keep up you'll be irrelevant. Minimalism offers sanity and serenity amidst the chaos. As you continue to explore this lifestyle, don't be misled by these common myths about minimalism. So not true 1.  Minimalism equals deprivation. Minimalism isn't about losing the things you need or love.  It's about prioritizing.  It's about discovering which belongings and activities bring value to your life, and which keep you too busy, too burdened, or too in debt for what you care about.  Minimalism isn't austerity – it's attention and choice. 2.  Minimalism is a number. Counting items might help you get started, but it's not a goal.  A 30-piece wardrobe isn't about the number.  It's about ease, versatility, and self-confidence.  Limiting hobbies to two or three is about time fo
Read more

8 Ways to Successfully Waste Money and More this Holiday Season

By
Image
It's been an expensive year in the U.S.  Inflation and interest rates are up, and the costs of food, gas, and electricity are all higher too (you know – those necessities we can't do without).  And the holidays always bring plenty of extra expenses. But an  October survey by financial services giant Deloitte found that shoppers are planning to spend a record-setting amount on gifts, decorations, food, and more this year – an average of $1,652 that we may not actually have. If your goal is to begin the New Year with a pile of credit card debt (and who doesn't want that?), be sure to follow these time-tested strategies.  Side benefits include cluttering your house with junk and courting burnout and exhaustion.  Ready to learn how? How to turn holiday cheer into New Year misery 1.  Ignore budgets. Budgets are boring and restrictive.  Debt counselor Dave Ramsey says they're a way to help you set priorities and account for where your money is going, but what does he know? S
Read more

If You Love Christmas but Hate Waste, Try Thrifting

By
Image
Many people say that Christmas is their favorite time of the year.  The lights, the music, the décor, the fun get-togethers, and yes, the presents – all add a special lift to each day during this season. You can love the holiday but still worry about what it does to the Earth.  And that's where the trending TikTok topic  #thriftmas  comes in. What a waste Togetherness, memories, and music can create plenty of Christmas magic.  But there's also all of the packaging, plastic, and waste to think about.  All the extra energy used for lights and inflatables.  All of the food waste, from special ingredients we buy for the one teaspoon our recipe calls for, to mail-order food gifts we don't want, to the leftovers we don't manage to eat.  And don't forget all of the transportation to get merchandise from wherever (mostly China), to the warehouse, to the Amazon truck, to its spot under the tree. That's why some people are giving Thriftmas a try.  It's about sourcing
Read more