12/17/2021
Christmas spirit?
In our house, and I am sure many other homes, having or finding Christmas spirit has been an elusive pursuit this year. It was here yesterday for a while, then another day it was nowhere to be seen. There have been so many reasons, in everyone's lives recently, to make finding and keeping the reason for the season difficult to keep alive in our daily lives.
There is the added pressure we put on ourselves to deliver all the great holiday experiences we enjoyed and remembered growing up to our own families now. No matter the obstacles, financial or emotional and that can be a daunting task all on it's own. That can be a lot to carry around as we plan and trudge forward towards the holiday this year.
There are the daunting tragedies we are all enduring personally or have seen recently in our communities and across our neighborhoods. The idea of keeping our families safe, a thought that is always there but normally is able to reside deep inside as we normally know they are, is now a real and pervasive thought and concern. how can we find the holiday spirit amidst this real and concerning fear?
I would remind all of us, as someone that saw a lifetime of personal trauma and tragedy early on in his life, that we will get there! We will see and enjoy all the little joys in these upcoming weeks. All of our hard work to make the holidays a success will be noticed and appreciated by everyone in our lives. We will impact, knowingly or unknowingly, people with good acts and kind words. We will find that spirit. It will fight it's way through and be noticed and seen and appreciated. For some it will be a gushing torrent of thankfulness and appreciation for all that we have. For others it might be a warm and subtle thought or feeling that we will be okay, that we will persevere through the seemingly insurmountable challenges we are going through right now.
I try to be that beacon of cheer in my home. I try to carry that light when others cannot. I am thankful every day, that when my light and spirit wanes, that the people in my life, are there to shine for me when I cannot. Be the hope and spirit. Kind acts and kind words continue to ripple through lives for years afterwards. Take those quiet moments to remember all the wonderful things you have or have done or that have come your way. You will find that Christmas spirit! Hug and love your family and friends whenever you can! Appreciate even the smallest blessings! We will find that Christmas spirit and make this holiday season the best yet!!
Merry Christmas to you all from the Lennon family!
