I stopped to admire the bright green shamrocks and lights and thought how wonderful and creative the owner was.
I place wreaths and hang lights in my windows during the month of December but remove them after the New Year.
When I returned home I asked myself why I define the most wonderful time of the year to celebrate holidays as December.
I think of December as magical, joyful, a time to show appreciation, gift giving and card writing. I made a promise to myself that I was going to make every day feel like I do in December and find something to celebrate every single day no matter
what!!!
I have found that special occasions do not have to be only holidays on calendars but many times are simple things right in front of us each day. Inviting two friends over on a Wednesday afternoon and opening up a jar of Nutella and making smores and
laughing with chocolate on your face can be fun at 53. It is perfectly fine at 53 to act a little childlike and laugh and I had huge fun on chocolate mint day with my three beautiful nieces while enjoying peppermint patties crushed into our mint icecream. In my 53 years of living I never had a margherita so my husband made a batch on that special day and I really liked it. Little things but they were so much fun.
On March 4th I wrote on my facebook status that we should all pat ourselves on the back for our accomplishments and keep MARCHing forth on our journeys. Not only was the status greeted with a number of thumbs up I also received emails and a few phone calls from friends thanking me for writing this. That is the best gift to me. We are all creators of our stories and I want everyone to be reminded even during the sad, confusing and painful times if we open our eyes there is joy in front of us. Many people are at the” now what??” crossroads of their life just like me. When you have something to look forward to each day you are eager to wake with a spring in your step to get started. Life is too unpredictable to wait until December to sing and find joy.
It is not always easy when you are in pain to feel like celebrating December which is more reason why we have to spread holiday
cheer all year long.
I was shocked and saddened when I heard on the news that Valerie Harper was diagnosed with approximately three months to live due to cancer of the brain. I saw her on an interview and she looked like she was going to embrace each day for as many as she had left. I find that inspirational. I do not have any idea how I would react if I knew I only had weeks left. I don’t know how long I have but I am going to make each one as special as I can.
I am finding days like chip and dip day and taking a stroll in the park a lot less stressful than the hustle and bustle of the December holidays. Holidays like take your book in the bathtub day can really grow on you compared to crowded lines at the mall. The more I do this I am finding many days of singing falalalala all year long. In December the word jewel probably would have had me running to a store for the perfect bracelet but in March I am thinking of my golden box of treasures through my telephone book and calling friends to celebrate the precious gems I have at my finger tips all year long!
We are 50 something and these truly are the best days of our lives. I am blessed that I saw that luck of the Irish window on that
sunny afternoon walk because it reminded me not to wait until December to celebrate the most wonderful time of the year but on December 31 say this was the most wonderful year of them all. Let the caroling begin.