Christmas Reflections

After Christmas

I like to take time to reflect

on the season

Because whether I like it or not

My Christmas's always become

a snapshot of my life season at the time.

This year I have the sumptuous luxury of time

to truly reflect.

Right off the bat

I know I am doing so much better this year

than the last two years
because
 I am actually writing about my reflections.

And boy am I grateful for  feeling 

so much better!

That being said

I still had a slow start to 

the Spirit of Christmas 

this year.

I kept feeling like I just couldn't get there

the first week back from our travels.

Until I realized

I was putting so much energy into trying to 

outrun my heart holes.

Holes like

missing my mother.

It's the second Christmas without her.

This year her departure felt so much more real.

Holes like

 committed to his estrangement 

from our family.

Even

 changing traditions of 

our family time together

seemed to cause a hole.

Once I realized the sources of my sadnesses

I felt more empowered

to 

Make An Emotional Plan!

By just taking the time to

realize the source

of my sad emotions

and

feel them

instead of trying to 

franticly outrun them

I could take a deep breath

and

Make an Emotional Plan.

I literally decided to give myself

two hours

two days in a row

to 

literally 

feel the feelings.

To acknowledge

that 

sometimes 

Life Hurts.

It can happen to everyone 

at one time or another.

The Holidays

can literally bring

those feelings 

front and center.

The feelings need to be acknowledged 

and 

understood

to take their power away.

So after my acknowledging times

I fully committed 

to 

refocus my 

intention.

To put all of 

my intention 

on 

the miraculous 

moments in my 

life.

I truly believe

we get more of

what we think of most.

We can choose

to grow our 

'emotional fortitude'

to focus 

on the good.

To Grow 

our Own Resilience.

With 

Focus on the 

big and small 

moments in life 

that create 

beauty 

depth

and 

meaning.

And in the intentional 

Refocus

I realized 

the Gift 

that my sadness could be

this year.

By taking time to acknowledge

my sadness  it actually 

Gave me Clearer Vision.

By 

acknowledging the pain

it opened up my heart

to see the beauty before me.

Instead of letting my dark emotions 

distort my life view 

I used them to

clarify 

and 

magnify

the 

beauty 

love 

and 

joy 

before me.

It reminded me

not to take anything

for granted.

Whether it be 

the Holidays

or 

Life

Each moment 

with 

family and friends

is important.

It reminded to 

to hold tight those I love.

To truly see them

and 

truly appreciate

those that 

Want 

to be in my life

and 

bless 

and 

send love to those who don't.

Instead of 

living in the missing

to remember those gone

with 

Love and Gratitude

for 

time spent together.

And in doing so

To truly Savor

Enjoy

and 

Love 

on those present today.

Family Traditions

that 

Change

can actually

make room 

for 

new 

and

Vibrant Traditions!

That being said

I am sharing some of my

magical Christmas moments.

Like this
 precious little girl!

I remember when I found out we were going to have 

a grandchild

I told myself

I wasn't going to turn into 

one of those drooling 

Grandparents

so taken 

with the child.

Well my friends

that didn't last long.

Being a grandparent

is 

Everything

they say it is.

It's like watching a miracle 

play out

before your own eyes!

The joy flows deep and full into 

your heart!

Seeing this young family

interact together

makes my heart 

swell 

with 

so much love and pride!

Our
 Christmas time together 

as a family

was 

everything I was hoping for!

Full of love

and 

exciting new family additions!

Besides darling Lenny,

my brother got a 

brand new puppy for Christmas!

Come Christmas Morning

It was presents and stockings with these three!

And speaking of 

New Traditions

we spent the morning playing 

Vertellis!

It is a card game 

with the purpose of having 

"Less small talk

More genuine conversation"

Not only did we all learn more about 

each other

it was the perfect game

to set
 intentions
 for
the New Year!
Spending time with my adult children
and
realizing even more
how remarkable they are
was a precious gift in it's self!

I can honestly say

this new Christmas activity

was one of my very favorite parts of the season

and 

I will definitely be making insightful games like

Vertellis 

into 

New Family Traditions!

Thank you for visiting here and 

Reading.

Taking the time to 

Reflect

and 

Write

and 

Share

has been so cathartic for me today.

It has been a year and a half

since 

I have written with an open heart.

I am not  completely sure why.

Sometimes I think after the really hard times

I might have been afraid

it I opened my heart

the pain would return.

But with that

I realize now

to be afraid of pain

one blocks the incoming joy 

as well.

I am realizing as I write today

Emotional Health

has the same 

needs and dedication

as 

physical health.

There needs to be 

A Plan

There needs to be daily workouts

and 

intentional goals.

There are no aha moments

that take the place of living an intentional life.

Each day needs intentional choice.

What you put in your 

heart and mind 

makes a difference

in the same way

bad food in your body does.

Sometimes we need to learn lessons

again and again.

I am 

grateful

for the opportunity

As always my friends

I wish you love and joy

as you style your life