It’s that time of year. A time for giving and a time to cherish moments with family and friends. I am so thankful that our blessings are many and our needs are few… there are many who can’t say the same.
The girls are thrilled that the only things that are actually planned over the next couple of weeks are social events. I tend to get overwhelmed by all of the preparations and additional activities that this time of year brings, and consequently, I thoroughly embrace that particular moment that “nothing else can be done” but enjoy the special moments with loved ones… 6pm on Christmas Eve.
It’s Christmas Eve Day and Cailyn is decorating ginger-bread people and I am going through gifts and stocking stuffers with the intention of “getting organized”… this is usually the time I feel “oh man… I need another X”, or “what was I thinking?” Lauryn is out for the afternoon but she’ll join us in time to have ‘drinks’ with friends and dinner with family!
Cailyn’s health journey understandably heightens the emotions accompanying this special time of year. It increases my focus on the important things, which I know to be one of the blessings of our journey, but it also compromises my capacity to simply enjoy the moments and remain hopeful. I have noticed that fear requires no expenditure of effort, it just rises up. On the other hand, hopefulness must be carefully and consciously manufactured… in the days following our meetings in London, I have definitely struggled to remain hopeful… 2017 promises to bring difficult challenges our way and I appreciate that I’m going to have to find a way to rally.
To honour the season, I’m going to use the mantra “Peace and Joy” when I start worrying about what’s looming around the corner. Hopefully, it will remind me that the only place that either of these qualities can be realized is “in this moment”. The better I am at staying in the moment, the more I will sincerely appreciate the joy or peace in them.
I wish you Peace and Joy, too. Treasure the opportunities you have to be with the person or people you care about… take nothing for granted because these special moments are promised to no one.
May 2017 bring you and yours good health!