Good Tidings to You...

 Happy Holidays!

Roots to Breath, Dona Anderson

Each year the holiday season is a special time that provides us with opportunities for creating memories, wonder, connections, reflection, and if you let it, stillness.

Growing up on the Canadian prairies, the winter holidays always offered opportunities to  go for a long walk in the crisp new snow, bundle up with many layers of soft warm clothes, mittens, and scarves, listen to the squeaky sounds of winter, and to be able to see your breath so you knew it was right there with you.

I remember walking on a milder evening with a friend while beautiful snowflakes fell and talking for hours about nothing I remember but feeling it was the best.  I remember being able to walk over to relatives to drop off presents instead of mailing them and getting to see them thankfully placed under their tree, and then having a cup of warm cocoa and some homemade cookies. 

I got to go along to the store to buy the big turkey, and help pick out the most beautiful Christmas tree to decorate.  It was always the best when I got to place the angel on top of the tree, and then to feel the pause in the air when the tree lights were first turned on.  And, there was nothing better than helping fill tins with freshly baked cookies and getting to eat the ones that were not quite perfect.  

I remember anxiously waiting for family to return home for the holidays, and sitting at the long decorated dinner table for hours with our best dishes and silverware, over second and third helpings, and then the finale, Mom’s Christmas Pudding for dessert!

One of my wishes for many years has been to sit at my Mom’s Christmas table again but now as an adult with all the same people.  I would like to listen again to what my parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, other relatives, and dearest family friends talked about, to see how they all laughed and connected, and most of all, to learn more about who they were. 

As a child and teenager, we often get little glimpses inside the people around us without getting the opportunity to really know them and their stories.  We think there will be lots of time later, but unfortunately life and time always changes our world and those in it.   

Our daily lives and how we communicate is different from back then to now, but in so many ways the same.  Even with all the changes and differences, I think the really important things, the hopes and the desserts of our life are the same, to love and to be loved, to laugh and smile, to be happy and healthy, and know that someone is there to notice, to see us, and be part of our lives.

So, my wish list always has on it for me to continue to make simple memories and joy with others through our laughter and smiles, through a walk together, through our exchange of stories, through our enjoyment of each bite of the food we eat together, or through our just sitting and talking for awhile about maybe nothing important but it will feel the best.   Each time I do this it gives me an opportunity to connect and be part of the simple moments in their day, and to let them connect to mine.  These are my most special gifts to me...

And while the earth in this part of the world is preparing to rest now for the winter and we say good bye to 2011 and welcome 2012, I will take some time to pause for awhile and celebrate with gratitude all that is in my present life, celebrate my hopes for the future, and I’ll replace some of those thoughts that go through my head with lots of wonderful memories to enjoy and celebrate again!  

Good tidings to you wherever you go, good tidings at Christmas, and a Happy New Year!

... Can someone pass the pudding and the sauce please!