Happy Holidays to you all, whatever holiday you choose to celebrate. I can’t believe that 2014 is almost over and 2015 is peeking out from under the counter tops. I can just barely see the top of its fuzzy little newborn head, but I know that it’s there, hugging its chubby arms around itself while trying not to giggle and give its hiding space away. To be honest, I’m not quite ready for 2015 yet, with its earnest fresh-starts and gleaming resolutions. I’m not done with 2014–there’s still eleven, count ’em, eleven days to go! Let’s end this year on a high note of reflection. Let’s focus on all the good we’ve done–be it writing projects plotted and completed, showing up for work when we’d rather throw the covers over our head and sleep in or just taking time each day to be grateful for what we have. There’s a lot to be said for stopping to smell the roses no matter how cliche the saying is. So my wish for you all this season is this…no matter how crazy busy the next two weeks are for you, I wish you moments of peace and happiness. Maybe your days will be filled with last minute shopping, the arrival of unexpected guests and lots of holiday baking. Or perhaps this time of the year is difficult for you–maybe illness, loss or unemployment gnaw at you. For you, most of all, I wish you peace and hope. Recognize that while life is dark now, it will get better, if you can open yourself up to it. Allow yourself to see the beauty that unfolds before your eyes each day–the little beauties like trees covered in snow, a small child’s laughter or the simple kindness of someone holding a door open. Go out of your way to see the beauty and beauty will come to you.
I choose to focus these next eleven days on remembering the good things that have happened this year. They’ll be time enough for lists and resolutions come January 1st.
May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back,
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
The rains fall soft upon your fields and,
Until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.
photo credit: <a href=”https://www.flickr.com/photos/unicoletti/4198408656/”>unicoletti</a> via <a href=”http://photopin.com”>photopin</a> <a href=”http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/”>cc</a>
One Story at a Time 