As the years have passed and I've grown older, the magic of Christmas has evolved, but that sense of warmth and joy remains. Today, as I prepare to celebrate
another Christmas with my own family, I find myself cherishing the traditions and memories that have shaped the holiday season for me.
I'm reflecting on that special feeling I had on Christmas morning as a child...when the air was charged with anticipation and my
sister and I were eager to uncover the treasures beneath the Christmas tree. It was the only day of the year that mom and dad didn't have to encourage us to get out of bed and not waste the whole day as they used to say.
The first snowfall of each year was a magical event. It was exciting to see that winter wonderland outside
the window...the perfect snow that nobody has stepped foot in yet. My sister and I would always go outside to build a snowman together...while my mom laid towels by the door to collect all of our wet outerwear in preparation of when we were ready to come back inside.
When I was around 5 or 6 years old, I remember watching a movie for
the first time called, The House Without a Christmas Tree. It was about a young girl who deperately wanted a Christmas tree, but her widowed father didn't. It was a very touching movie that captured the magic of the season.
As an adult, it may sometimes be challenging to be happy about gifts under the tree (wow...everything
is SO expensive these days!), snow (what a mess if we have to shovel it or drive in it), and modern Christmas movies (they don't make 'em like they used to).
As adults, it's easy to lose sight of the enchantment.
However, by intentionally fostering a sense of wonder and nostalgia, we can rekindle that spark that made Christmas so magical in our youth.
One way to keep the awe and magic in Christmas is to revisit the traditions that defined the holiday when we were kids. Whether it's baking cookies with loved ones, singing carols around the fireplace, or finding the pickle ornament in the tree, these timeless customs can transport us back to our childhood.
In doing so, we're not only creating new memories but also paying homage to the traditions that have been passed down through generations.
I extend my warmest wishes to you and yours. May this day and every day ahead be a time of joy,
peace, connection, and rediscovery.
Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or the Winter Solstice, may your home be filled with love, laughter, and the warmth of cherished moments.
May the spirit of wonder and awe accompany you today...and into the coming year.
