December Views Week 4 + Thoughts on Year-End Transition

Christmas has come and gone and was celebrated with a healthy blend of joy and gentle dysfunction, socializing and quiet time, feasting and, well, more feasting.

I enjoy this in-between time that allows me to reflect on the year past before feeling too pressured to jump into projects for the year to come. A lot of good things came about in 2010 and I feel a recap post coming together – nothing fancy, probably a bulleted list, simple. Or not.

While I let my transitional thoughts percolate just a little bit more I thought I’d leave you with my last week of December Views. This Christmas was graced not only with the presence of the usual suspects, but with our adorable wee niece A., whose tiny toes and candy cane leggings I simply could not resist...

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas. I'll see you in the new year.

Happy happy wishes to you.

Christmas Eve Ponderings and my Christmas Wish for You

I am blessed.

I've been weepy all day at the thought of all that is good and right, at the generosity of kind people, at the sight of an abundant Christmas Eve spread contributed by my colleagues and the sounds of their children's laughter through the hallways.

I've been waxing nostalgic at Christmases past and imagining, hoping Christmases to come.

I pray for those who are struggling this Christmas. May the Universe guide them through this time of year laden with social pressures to be cheerful. May they find peace and a quiet place to cry if they need to. May they find the courage to reach out for support when they need it. May they be overcome with joy - even if only for a moment.

I sit in silence. I live in laughter.

I am grateful for it all.

I wish you a peace-full, joy-full Christmas...

Steph

xo

~~~

Sounds of the Season: It was tough call today, but this one seemed to fit...

December Views Week 3

Sounds of the Season: Winter Solstice Edition

I thought I'd share a fun little ditty by The Tea Party (the Canadian rock band, not to be confused with anything political) to celebrate the occasion...

Happy Solstice to all!

Steph

xo

Solstice Reflection: On Being Present...

I checked out today's entry from my 2008 Solstice Reflections and thought it was worth sharing. Because sometimes we need a reminder...

From the archives, December 18, 2008:

"I got the blues thinking of the future, so I left off and made some marmalade. It's amazing how it cheers one up to shred oranges and scrub the floor."
- D.H. Lawrence

During the past few days I've been caught up in a flurry of (for the most part) self-imposed to-dos and expectations. I'm finding it difficult to stay in the moment, my head always swimming with a list of things I need or want to complete before a certain date. Quite frankly it's draining me of festive cheer, leaving me feeling increasingly detached, cranky and on edge.
 
That's not who I want to be.

I think the key to breaking the negative cycle is bringing myself back to the moment. If I'm wrapping gifts, I'm wrapping gifts - not worrying about household chores. If I'm having dinner, I'm having dinner - not crafting my next blog post. If I'm crafting a blog post, I'm crafting a blog post. Period.

So tonight I put a call out to my Higher Power for help living in the now. It's easier said than done, but I will practice. Or maybe I just need to take a break to make my own batch of marmalade. :)

Word(s) of the day: stillness, rest, clarity, focus, presence, moment, flow, breather, perfection, expectations, letting go

~~~

Sounds of the Season: Because Vince Guaraldi's music soothes me, and A Charlie Brown Christmas brings me joy...