The Holidays are Over

Like i said in my last blog the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas is my favorite time of the year.  However the time between Christmas and Easter is my LEAST favorite time of the year.  It's cold, dark, long gloomy, bleak, liturgically contains Ash Wednesday and Lent, oh yea, did i mention that it's dark.  So this year i've come up with a plan.  i'm looking back at Advent and listing what i liked about it.  i love Christmas music, so maybe i should listen to it on my way to work every day.  i love Christmas decorations-maybe i need to think about decorating my surroundings, declutter, put up some lights, burn some candles, have an celebratory atmosphere everyday.  Easier said than done.  But, i want to keep my mojo going! We had a slow relaxed December 24-Jan 1.  Gene and Karen usually come by Christmas Eve for seven fish but Gene was released from the hospital the weekend before Christmas, so Felix and I ate some squid and shrimp, went to the 8pm mass and called it a night.  The next morning we opened gifts, visit with Marilyn and put a roast in the oven.  All in all it was a nice quiet day.  At 9am December 31st the phone rings.  Maria calls to tell us Emilio is in the hospital.  We usually spend New Year's Eve with these folks.  Surprisingly, going to mass, visiting our friend in the hospital then going home alone and eating take out was a nice relaxing way to spend the night.  Where am i going with all this?  i guess holiday spirit and contentment come from within and going with the flow RADICAL ACCEPTANCE is going to be my resolution this year.  Forget loosing weight,  exercising more, eating healthy or any other usual resolutions. Some times are just going to be better than others.   Accept what is and just keep going.

Advent is my favorite time of the year.  i really enjoy preparing for christmas, listening to christmas carols and getting caught up in my students excitement.

Like all things we anticipate and prepare for Christmas comes and then all is forgotten.  Thinking about this is a little depressing and this new year is about radical acceptance.  Accept what is, change what i can then move on.  i can send my family and friends notes and cards when i think of them.  Here's a thought: leave some lights and decorations around. Another one: give a gift to someone who helps out at work or home listen to some upbeat music year round.   And the dogs, can't forget them, they look like winter all year long.