It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas…

Every year, I put my Christmas Cactus outside for the summer. It stays green and looks happy for the season – sitting around the pool. I bring it in on Labour Day weekend and put it in my front window (a north facing window) and it happily acclimatizes back to it indoor life. Every year, in mid November, it starts to bloom and when I see it bloom, I begin to feel like Christmas. I start making my plans for gifts and decorating and the things I want to sew, crochet or knit for the season ahead.

It turns out that I have 10 boxes of Christmas decorations. This week, I have been bringing them up 2 boxes at a time and slowly decorating the house (cleaning as I go). So, in about a month Christmas will be here. I have sewn some candy cane porch pillows for myself and my friend, Jayde. I am trying to do everything in a mindful way – appreciating the opportunity to even be able to plan for the season ahead. Instead of getting caught up in being “busy”, I am mindfully mixing up cookies, making lists and creating baskets of treats that will bring joy to the people in my circle. My goal for this season is to cultivate presence, peace and well-being every single day and to bring that into the lives of those around my with compassion. Cultivating a sense of gratitude and appreciation (instead of feeling like a victim or focusing on on our problems and “have nots”) is a powerful strategy that can transform our perspective and promote greater emotional and mental well-being. So, instead of focusing on the “hustle and bustle” of Christmas, focus on the people you love, share meaningful experiences and create lasting memories. Slow down and appreciate the simple things that make our lives authentic, meaningful and satisfying.