Christmas Presence

by Lauri

I used to love the Holiday Season. It was my favorite time of year.

I loved the twinkling lights in the dark and Holiday music playing in stores.  I’d get excited at the sight of the Christmas tree lot across the street from my house.  I listened with compassion as other people complained about the hustle and bustle and the consumerism monster taking over. I felt their pain.

I also knew that dropping beneath the hustle into the essence of the season is a choice – one that we all have to make for ourselves.

I was lucky – my family and I (primarily my mother and I) had spent the Holidays for my entire adult life honoring what’s really important. To us, this season meant warmth, connection and love. We spent cozy nights snuggling under blankets in reclining chairs having deep conversations – or watching Downton Abby. We had the true meaning of the season of giving and receiving down.

On July 8th, 2015 my mother passed away.

This season is now a double-edged sword.

Part of me still loves it, for a moment, and then I remember …

Still, I hear people complaining about the hustle and bustle and the consumerism monster taking over. I watch as people cut each other off in traffic or nearly crash fighting for just the right parking space. I feel their pain.

What would the Holiday season be like if you paid as much (or more) attention to the presence of the ones you love as you do the presents and the parking spaces?

My wish for everyone this year is that that they drop below the hustle and bustle, at least once this season, with someone that they love, and connect. Feel the warmth. Be grateful. Discover and honor what’s important to you about this season with the ones you love while you still can.

Happy Holidays!

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