My journey on the Path less traveled. Introverted survivor of childhood abuse using writing to “Bring on the thriving!” A little lopsided sometimes, stubborn, but smart enough to know it’s time to truly heal! 🙏🏻❤️
Is there that one song that rises to the top of all you’ve ever heard? Oh, I can’t even put it into words how special, how moving, how absolutely spiritualThe Prayer is. It was written for and sang momentously by Andrea Bocelli and Celine Dion.
So today, after hearing an old school classmate is in critical condition with Covid, knowing that another dear friend is suffering from crippling depression this holiday season,….I’m going to use this song to remind me about the strength of our prayers and love for each other.
Together, we are meant to walk this journey together. Please be extra kind, say a prayer for a stranger, and find a way to see how important our love for each other really is.
I’m saying an extra prayer for everyone reading this. We are in this together, highs and lows, we can do this. Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas to you all!
So I’m definitely the wrong person to have all the quick and easy, or creative answers to figuring out what the “Perfect Christmas gift” to give is. Blame it on my “hard to explain” upbringing that reinforced that STUFF is never what means the most. I know it’s true, but hear me out on this one little thought.
I get it, on most days I do. But I can tell you from experience that there’s still nothing like seeing someone’s face absolutely light up when you are able to find a gift so simple and meaningful to them especially. That feeling of joy and gratitude you feel inside and out, just knowing that you were able to connect with your gift receiver on an almost spiritual level.
My parents were not great gift buyers, but I do remember them trying, and that memory of the love behind the thought will stick with me forever. If I’m truly intent on finding the good in the not so good, that’s the emotional approach I choose.
The Holidays are not about the physical gifts, but kids especially do crave at least one little surprise, even a homemade card! ❤️✨ It’s in that one gift that they are able to feel included, remembered, cared about, and socially ok when their friends ask them what they got for Christmas.
There will always be families that cannot afford even one gift. Today I’m thankful that our Church puts together an annual Giving Tree to help make that one gift happen for as many kids as we can.
Again, I know it’s not about the gift, but the emotional response from a child being able to share in at least one is deeply tied to developing emotional health too deep to be able to explain here in writing.
If you know of any children that may need that one special moment, I can’t tell you enough how much of a difference it will make in their overall healthy development. It’s just too hard to explain in words, you’ll just have to trust me on this one.
Oh I have the best memories of pouring through the Sears and JC Penny’s Christmas catalogs back in the day!!
I’d almost wear the highlighter out circling all the potential gift ideas. I’d have so many pages dog-eared that the next person to look through the catalog would be a bit overwhelmed by my little Mess.
Those hours spent pouring through the pages are some of my best “wish memories” as a kid! Even if you knew it wasn’t affordable, it was still such a fun visual to circle the picture and to imagine what your closet could look like.
A favorite personal feeling, that I’m just now remembering I loved, was the “window shopping” element of the holiday season. It honestly can be just as fun, just as intoxicating as literally buying the items. The experience itself can be felt in the imagining, the creativity, and the warmth the visual can create.
Happy Window shopping season!! Today I’m thankful that our old Christmas Catalogs are coming back! My screened out, blood shot eyes are thankful for the more relaxing, old school catalogs to make it back.
Live, Laugh, Love with everything you’ve got while you still can! 💜✨ Thank you so much for stopping by. I truly appreciate and value you all here.
This is my least favorite question,….I never have a prepped answer ready! Oh, the new air fryer that everyone has, or the subscription of the month to that favorite magazine, or something to do with music (which I haven’t kept up on this year at all)!! 🤦♀️
#findingthejoy #caringforothers #loveyourneighbor
It’s just never been about stuff to me. I do remember as a kid feeling a little sad when I’d hear my friends list off all the necklaces, bracelets, and new gadgets from aunt June; a half dozen of the newest and trendiest sweaters that looked amazing on anyone who wore them,…. Well, I actually did appreciate my new gloves and the small bible from mom. It was still hard to listen to others list all those “things” when I was younger.
Whether it’s how I was raised, in a very simplistic way, or just how my personality is naturally wired, I really don’t equate stuff with Christmas. The “stuff” actually stresses me out. 😳 It’s the caroling with the church to the home bound, or the baking and then eating all of our own cookies, the sweet handwritten notes in the cards from friends and family, and our new favorite, the Advent candles and readings leading up to the Holy day for our family. ✨
When I say I don’t “want” anything, I’m actually serious. But, I have to admit, seeing my older teens get excited about getting us gifts “all on their own, with their own money” for the first time this year has been extra sweet. Again, it’s not the material gift, but the smile on their face, and the giggles about how they’re so excited to surprise their parents this year. That’s what gets me right in the heart!
#merrychristmas #joyinthesimplethings #peace
Sending Christmas Love to everyone! I’m findings my voice this year and that’s the biggest gift I could have ever asked for. 🙏🏻
Sending you all love, joy, and hope for that feeling of peace and happiness, even in the smallest of ways, things, or gestures.
Live, Laugh, Love with everything you’ve got, while you still can!! Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa, or however you celebrate this year. Gods love is here for all of us. ❤️🎄🙏🏻
So I’m learning new “wellness lingo” in my ACOA group (adult children of alcoholics/dysfunction families). I’m about 6 months into my new group experience. We’re talking about Inner Child work now.
wow!! Learning about the 12 step healing process is amazing!! I’ve never heard most of the terms, but they’re all making complete sense. 😳 The dots are starting to connect on this path to recovery and learning what is and what isn’t healthy.
Bells and Whistles going off in my head tonight!! No wonder why I get ridiculously excited about watching my favorite Christmas cartoons and movies every year! I’ve been doing a little “inner child” work on my own, without even realizing it! ❤️ Yep, I’m going with this! I like that relaxed childlike feeling once in a while.
#healing #holidays #community
Now to the good stuff, my top holiday “must see” shows! 🎄 📺
Starting it off with Rudolph tonight!! Sending you all wishes and prayers for a loving holiday season! So thankful for our writing community here that we can share our stories and days with too.
Live, Laugh, Love with everything you’ve got, while you still can!! Thanks so much for stopping by! I appreciate and value you all.
💜✨
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Live, Laugh, Love with everything you have, while you still can! Thanks so much for stopping by! I appreciate and value you all so much. 💜✨
