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
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
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
