The holidays can be hard and very emotional for some people on the best of years. For me, this year will be extra hard. Everything in my life got turned upside down when my mom unexpectedly passed away March 24, 2014. My 25th anniversary with my wonderful husband was on November 18th. My mom was a huge part of our wedding and was planning to host a 25th wedding celebration for us. Needless to say my emotions are all over the map.
As I move into the decorating stage of the holiday season, I have to admit my gut doesn’t feel like doing a darn thing. However my head knows, I will regret not putting up some decorations for the holidays. I have a strong value for head, heart and gut alignment. I like it when my head, heart and gut are all on the same page. This season they definitely are not, so I decided to act from my heart.
I love white lights any time of the year in my home but, I especially love lights during the holiday season. This year I found some interesting shaped clear jars, vases and bottles. I am putting strings of LED battery operated snowflake lights inside and will be grouping the holders on tables, mantels and shelves for a warm winter-wonderland feeling. I am excited about decorating for “winter” instead of decorating for the “holiday”.
For me, swapping the word “holiday” for the word “winter” makes the task of decorating more emotionally manageable. Now my head, heart and gut are on the same page. I feel as though I can honor my mom with a new tradition. What change can you make to make your holidays more manageable? Sometimes the littlest change can give the biggest positive result.
Ideas: A coffee date with an old friend, brunch with the girls, afternoon movie date with your sweetie, grilled cheese sandwiches like mom used to make, hot bath with special bubbles, trip to a museum, ice or roller skating, Frisbee in the park, visit a used book store and buy a new to you paperback book or paint that bedroom you have been meaning to paint for the past several years.
