I sat down today to write and realized the entry I started back in October never made it past those first few lines. It made me smile and shake my head - where has the time gone? Somehow we’re just 15 days away from Christmas. There’s snow on the ground here in Cleveland, the air is nippy, and it feels like the season arrived before I was quite ready for it.
The October CELEBRATE retreat still warms my heart when I think about it. Each woman showed up fully and allowed herself to let go and take in the peace and fun of our time together. The weather was kind to us, and Lakeside was beautiful in that quiet, gentle way it has of holding us.
My husband and I led a “Surviving the Holidays” group just before Thanksgiving, and I felt the meaning of it more than ever. It is so important to remember those who are grieving, whether their loss was recent or years ago. Holidays shift when someone you love is gone.
My first Thanksgiving without my mother was bittersweet this year. It was such a gift to have three of our five children and their families around the table. We missed the other two, of course, but with a family our size, being all together is a rare gift. We treasure whoever is able to be with us. Joy and sadness kept weaving around me the entire day.
December began in a whirl with several gatherings, celebrations, and commitments all wrapped up in the first few days. This week has slowed down, and I’m grateful. My word for the year is BALANCE, and I look at it every day. Some days it comes naturally, and other days I have to work a bit harder for it. When I feel overwhelmed, I close my eyes and take a deep breath, then another, until my shoulders drop and the world softens just a bit.
I’m decorating the house slowly this year, one box at a time. Some days I tackle two or three; other days just one. Christmas cards have been done over several sittings rather than all at once, and I’ve trimmed my list so it feels kind instead of hurried. I’m determined to pay attention to what I need each day, whether that means baking cookies, wrapping gifts, or sitting down with a cup of tea and a good book.
One of my favorite things this time of year is to take time one evening, turn off all the lights except for the glow of the Christmas tree, play soft Christmas music, and simply sit. No agenda, no rush, just the quiet shimmer of the lights. That’s when I feel the world settle inside me. That’s when my balance returns.
More than anything, I hope you’re finding your own balance this season. Time with people you love, and time that is yours alone. Not every decoration needs to go up. Not every invitation needs a yes. We’re allowed to choose what brings us peace.
