Our expectations of Christmas have been reinforced by beautiful and unrealistic advertisements all over, You cannot escape it. It is on the radio, on TV, and it exploded in the stores even before Thanksgiving here in our town. The pressure is palpable, and for some of us, it feels like a monster creeping up.
I always thought Christmas without children is not Christmas. It is all about gifts for children and the tree and decorations are for kids and extended family to enjoy. In my case, I have neither. I am blessed to have a husband who doesn't feel the same way. Since we got married, he wants the Christmas tree up and decorations. For us! just us. He makes me feel that we are enough, we shall enjoy them as we like. He also is not fixated on gifts, which helps a lot.
Christmas is not about how much in debt you can get. People's love for you is not measured by what you buy them. You don't have to run your credit card to the limit, and be paying for it all next year.
We shouldn't let the commercialism of this season bring us down and ruin a great time of year.
It is a time to rest your heart, and spread love, not spend and spend.
I found something on Facebook that made so much sense to me.
"The time of Winter Solstice is not celebrated as it was in the past, with the understanding that
is a period of rest. Of going in to our homes within ourselves, and assimilate all that we have
gone through this year, as it approaches it's end.
As in nature and the animal kingdom that surrounds us, this time of 'hibernation' is
necessary for our tired bodies and bogged down minds.
Modern culture has taught us to avoid this moment to the max. Lights, shopping, excess work, excessive spending, travel, meals and consumerism.
We should spend time inside, like all other creatures. The weather is so tough and bitter that
people feel feel that winter is harsh. All the while, winter is in fact kind, and it shows us the path
gently and calmly, towards our inner self. Towards the annual time of peace and reflection,
embracing the darkness, forgiving, accepting and loving.
Winter eliminates distractions, and the noise, and it presents to us the perfect moment for rest and retread into a private space like love, bringing fire, and light into our homes. And then as the turn
off the corner, the new year will begin, and like a seed planted into the depths of the earth, we all rise with renewed energy, to dance once more in the sunshine".
* The section in italics was posted by Adriana Consuelo on Facebook. I am unsure about who the author is. I did not write this, I just translated it into English.
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