When you think of Christmas and your fondest memories what comes to mind, what was it that made you the happiest? Is it the people or the places you traveled, the food you ate or perhaps the gifts received, maybe even a gift you gave?
Having a birthday near Christmas and as a child always feeling a bit let down if I had to pick out a Birthday gift from under the tree, or receiving a gift at a party that was wrapped in Christmas paper, I was used to think, why can't people just use birthday paper like the rest of the year? Don't get me wrong I loved Christmas but I always wanted it to be very separate from "my day". There was even a time in my life for a few short years when I changed my birthday to April, just so I could actually have a gift that didn't come from under the tree and a cake decorated for a birthday and not Christmas. It didn't mentally damage me though to have a birthday close to Christmas, but it made me care for Christmas just a little bit less especially as as a child.
As I've gotten older (yeah much older) I've had more time to reflect on the things that have meant the most to me and when it comes down to it, none of them had anything to do with the gifts under the tree, one less or one more would not have made a difference of course when you are little one less can be a pretty horrible thing especially when you have to pick the one that is coming out before Christmas.
As a much younger girl living in Long Beach, CA. with my family, my mom and dad borrowed a white tree one year, I think to make us feel more like we were back home on the East Coast where trees would have naturally been covered with snow, it was fully decked out with ornaments and tinsel, I don't remember if there were lights on the tree, but I know that mom had also borrowed a revolving 4 color disc light that was facing the tree and as it turned those colors would light up the tree and the ornaments on it. She also had a borrowed set off world dolls which were proudly displayed on the windowsill in our family room for all to see as they walked by outside. I don't remember any of the gifts I got that year, or the food we ate at our Christmas Dinner, but I do remember how loved it made me feel being there with my whole family enjoying that Christmas.
This year as we approach another holiday where we should be socially distancing as another type of covid spreads, I invite you to think about those years when maybe you didn't have as much as you wanted, or you weren't with those people you wished you could be with, take a trip down memory lane and remember what made you the happiest. So many this year will be alone for the first time, some will be homeless, so many facing indefinite futures. Help where you can, be kind and give whatever you have the capacity of giving, for some it will be financial, and for some it may just be a smile or a cup of coffee for the person behind you in line, just do it, see how it makes you feel, and remember to find some joy in the season and pass it on.
