"...the pleasure of forgotten things"

 Today, The Husband & I went to buy a new tree, as our last one had its final, pitiful run last Christmas. I have to be honest, I've been less and less into the "holiday spirit", and this experience just highlighted the disconnect I've been feeling. To me, as we were wandering around the room full of decorated displays, it all seemed so grossly fake. The idea of plunking down the money for a tree that doesn't look real (sadly with 3 pets, we've ruled out actually getting a real tree) and putting a bunch of shiny crap on it and all just because it's kind of expected feels hard to justify to me this year. All of it, from the first tacky lawn ornament to the last giant bow of the whole season makes me cringe a bit, because I guess I'm not feeling the genuineness in a year where so many things have imploded for us and so much disappointment has prevailed.

In order for me to get any sense of satisfaction from this next month, I know I need to release myself from bearing the burden of the things that have brought some of the black clouds into the past year, and frankly I'm tired of holding so tightly to my own unhappiness over them. I've always had a cynical side accompanying my playful nature, and really this past year has fed my cynicism and turned it into a very large, hairy, snarly Troll. I know I have changed as a person over the past 8 months in a way. But I would like to let that Troll out of the cage to take a nice vacation for a while, perhaps overseas. Maybe it can go to Pakistan and take out Bin Laden?

Anywhooo...

I don't want to let anything cloud a special time of year. I think I'd like to make some of the decorations, do things simple, and really allow myself to feel meaning in small things we can do together.

Do you have any special things you do together during the holiday season that help center the focus on the small moments, the shared experiences, the pleasure of forgotten things?

Comments

[Brianne]

It's totally dumb, but the thing that gets me into the Christmas spirit most is watching The Muppet Christmas Carol. That classic, meaningful story, combined with the childhood nostalgia of Muppets, works perfectly for me.

Another good thing: Baking with my husband. It's crazy how much fun it is to eat a tiny bit of cookie dough off his neck. ;)

[nichole]

It's a tradition of mine to unpack and set up this ceramic nativity scene that my mother hand painted in 1965. Over the years baby jesus has suffered a broken hand and the donkey is missing an ear but it always reminds me of my childhood when I would rearrange the scene almost daily....where the camels, wisemen, the shepherds would stand. Now that my mother has been gone for 10 years it just means a lot....

[S]

I hesitate to confess this, (and I'll prolly blog about this later) but I am a total Xmas retard.

I did not grow up with Xmas, it was a holiday that everyone else did. No trees, no decorations, no special dinners. Nada.

So, now I am a grown-up (somewhat) and have a household with my pooch and sweet patootie and we have made a decision to not do the decorations/tree/hoo-ha. It also has to do with the fact that I'm just not in the Christmas "know". I don't know how to pick out a tree and put it up. We don't have family ornaments. I don't know the gift etiquette and who to get gifts for and who not to, etc etc etc.

His mom used to buy TWO xmas trees when he was growing up: one for the kids to decorate and one for her to decorate "the right way".

Yah. So, I put up a wreath each year, because it's festive and smells good, and tape up all the cards we get and be done with it.

If I'm really feeling it, I'll make paper snowflakes and tape them to the front window. (I love making paper snowflakes).

If you are feeling that you need to have a less-decorated holiday this year, then go with it. Enjoy the season regardless.

My two cents.

xoxo

~S

[Theresa]

I have had several years in a row of letting the "bad things" get to me and suffocate any Christmas spirit that I had. I faked my way through the holidays. As much as bad things happen to good people, good people know how to get over bad things. So rather than declare a war against Christmas, I have decided to do a search and rescue mission for my spirit and attitude. I believe this starts with small meaningful things. I work in a school, so I would first recommend being around little ones. They will totally lead you to the path of Christmas wonder! Maybe have a movie night with your favorite childhood Christmas movies (as Brianne suggests above). Do something special for someone who would least expect it. Make some paper chains to decorate the tree, you could write a memory or a wish on each link. Get some plain glass ornaments and fill them or paint them yourself. Create beauty. Find a way to make your spirit grow and feed it.