Sparkling Cider & Chocolate
Whew! How did the holidays get here so fast? This year has gone by in a blinking of the eye … at least it feels that way to me.
Over the Thanksgiving weekend, like so many other people, I was pulling out of storage, boxes and bins of the seasonal decorations. My living room and entire lower part of our home looked like it had been invaded by total chaos. For a moment my thought was…Donna, you are a bit crazy doing all of this work. Why bother? Of course, I know why. I just love the season and the house always looks so festive with the bright lights and the eclectic items that have been collected through the years. Not only that, there are the friends that come by and the delight in their faces is wonderful to see when they step into our home, enjoying all of the colorful decorations. It just feels so good.
However, I wanted to share something with you that occurred a few Christmas’s past. It was after New Year’s Day and I was getting ready to pull out all of my bins and boxes for storage of the holiday decorations. I was alone and delighting in the thought of being able to put everything away in record time. Yes…I had a plan, was organized, raring to get to work. Just for the fun of it I turned on the Christmas lights one last time.
Then it hit me. I was so busy during the holiday season that I hadn’t taken time to appreciate the beauty that been in my own home. Everything and everybody else had been in first positioning of attention. My thought? Donna, that is so dumb! If you cannot take the time to enjoy and appreciate the beauty around you when are you take the time to do it? Change your routine gal! And that is what I did.
I had an ice cold bottle of sparkling cider in the refrigerator and a wonderful array of chocolates that had been gifted to us. I took all of the items into my living room along with one of my finest crystal glasses, put on music, sipped my delicious cider and nibbled on those luscious chocolates, savoring not just the beauty of what was around me, but the memories associated with so many of the decorations. There was no time clock set. It was wonderful. Now I deliberately take time to enjoy what is around me and not miss the good stuff. I hope you will too.
The holidays are so magical. I have so many memories and stories that have accumulated through the years and it was that particular mindful awareness, after the season had passed, that the most important aspect of this wonderful season is the joy of sharing time, good food, conversation, various plays, musical events, and also, to take the time to be grateful, appreciative, for the many blessings we have surrounding us.
May the joys and blessings of this holiday season grace you, your friends, and family abundantly!