What you’re really going to do this Christmas
Christmas is a season not only of rejoicing but of reflection ─ Sir Winston Churchill.
As the end of the year is approaching, the holiday spirit seems to be alive and well pretty much everywhere we go. The streets are decorated with colourful lights, the malls are looping everybody’s favourite carols and all the classic holiday movies are being televised daily. Times couldn't be any more jollier ─ then again, what holiday isn't?
December has the innate ability to provide the year’s end with a positive note; most of us get the family together and celebrate by indulging in a two-week feast and exchanging gifts. Naturally our biggest reflex during the holidays is to let the good times roll, but we seem to consistently ignore the idea of pausing and reflecting on what happened throughout the whole year.
If we take this year, the world was once again plagued with tragedies and dark moments: terrorist attacks, migrant crises, natural disasters, uneventful elections, to name a few. On a personal level, your body and soul took a beating. You succeeded in some things, failed in others, stopped some projects, started others, lost souls you loved, met new ones you now love. We’re happy, we’re sad, we’re grateful, we’re bitter, but mostly, we’re spent.
And yet we partake in conventions regardless of our state of mind: Black Friday, Cyber Monday, last-minute holiday shopping, as if we had a ticking clock that’s attached to the back of our heads.
Take a minute to really think about what truly matters to you. Don’t dive into universal expectations ─ this is the chance to rekindle with your body and soul and take back your breath. Think about what happened last year. If you’re grateful for something, say thanks. If you’re upset with something, take the most valuable lesson from it, make peace with it and move on. If you lost loved ones, be thankful that they were part of your life. If you met new ones, tell them you’re grateful they came into your life. Remember how much your family and friends mean to you. Most importantly, before you start thinking about what you want from next year, cherish the gift of life and appreciate everything you have.
