A Christmas Thought
Although I enjoy winter as much as a child enjoys receiving underwear for Christmas, it truly is a remarkable season! I believe it’s the most beautiful of holidays! Looking outside to a fresh, crisp snow fall and big white flakes falling from the sky truly is a lovely sight; unless you have somewhere to go, then it’s just plain awful! But driving home after work and seeing the city you live in all bright with lights is breathtaking, and seeing the lights over Dunlop Street is quite charming. They aren’t perfectly lined, or cover a quarter of the street, or even lit up half the time, but that’s what makes them so magical, their charm. Passing Lakeshore and seeing the lights honestly brightens up my drive (literally and figuratively). You may not live in Barrie and have any idea what I’m referring to, but just imagine the town you live in, how much you overlook it on a daily basis, but when you actually take the time to really take it in, the true beauty of it can exceed your expectations. I’m so glad to live in a city with beauty; being right on the water is breathtaking. And, I love that my city takes the time to put up festive lights and spread some holiday cheer.
We have so much to be thankful for, some people never will have the chance to enjoy Christmas lights, or have family to celebrate with. The holidays really are a humbling time for me. It’s easy to get caught up in the stress of the holidays and not often enough do people look back on all they have and things they should be thankful for.
On one hand, I think it would be great if everyone could experience Christmas the way children experienced it. The excitement they get when they look at their Christmas tree with wrapped gifts underneath, the joy of believing in miracles and believing that being a good boy or girl really is all it takes to get everything you’ve ever wanted. However, on the other hand, I enjoy being grown up and experiencing Christmas for what it truly is… a time to just be with the ones you love most. A time to wake up with your loved ones, sitting in your pyjamas all morning and just appreciating each other’s company. A time to believe in a higher power and that the world really is bigger than just you and your simple life.
What if we eliminated the stress of purchasing gifts? Remember the days when you made your parents a macaroni picture frame and your parents were beyond thrilled?! Yea, let’s start doing that again… everyone loves things from the heart!
I hope you don’t get angry with the slow walkers in the mall this holiday season, I hope you drive slow enough to be safe and to enjoy the beauty that surrounds you. And, I hope you don’t stress too much about cooking enough food, or how your dessert is going to turn out (I can tell you from experience, your family and friends are still going to love you even if they only got one scoop of mashed potatoes instead of two!) We are guilty of not embracing every moment and getting bent out of shape over the small things, but maybe one step at a time, we can better ourselves!
Love, Joy and Peace are the ingredients for a wonderful Christmas; and I truly hope you find them all!
I hope everyone enjoys the Merriest of Christmas’s (it's only 20 days away!!) and is surrounded by those most near and dear to their lives this holiday season!