After yesterday, I have gone into I heart Christmas mode full on. I'm ready to start refreshed and rejuvenated today. Where's my balsam candle? And my Love Actually and Miracle on 34th Street DVDs?
I needed to take some time and effort to put things into perspective in order to get to this state of mind. Focusing on family, listening to a little joyful music, taking note of small gestures of kindness shared--even among strangers--- all really helped...and then there's the Kohl's holiday commercial. Have you seen it? It actually made me cry, and I would attribute that to my emotional roller coaster yesterday, but my 11 year old was brought to tears, too. It's a good one. Well done, Kohl's Marketing Team, well done.
I needed to take some time and effort to put things into perspective in order to get to this state of mind. Focusing on family, listening to a little joyful music, taking note of small gestures of kindness shared--even among strangers--- all really helped...and then there's the Kohl's holiday commercial. Have you seen it? It actually made me cry, and I would attribute that to my emotional roller coaster yesterday, but my 11 year old was brought to tears, too. It's a good one. Well done, Kohl's Marketing Team, well done.
I've been a little reluctant this year about giving in to Christmas too early. I've snarfed at aisles of garland and ornaments. And stockings and singing Santas. (In case you're wondering, a snarf is a combination of snarl and scoff.) I think I was pushing back against the spoonfuls of tinsel being crammed down my throat since before Halloween. That, and I wanted to focus my attention on Thanksgiving, and give it its due. Poor Thanksgiving. The neglected holiday. It's the plain Jane with heart and a great personality compared to the more glitzy and glamorous leggy cover model of Christmas. A plaid tea length dress to a sequined cocktail mini. The Mary Ann to Christmas's Ginger.
But after soaking myself in snippets of holiday joy to oust the funky mood that had taken over yesterday, I have to admit, I'm feeling the Christmas spirit in a big way today. I'm ready to deck the halls, jingle bells, walk in a winter wonderland and have myself a merry little Christmas. I guess listening to Christmas music and focusing on joy was all I needed. Which is sort of funny, because I've been hearing Christmas music played in stores for weeks now (yeah, I know!), and I've been completely unaffected. It must be the angelic voice of Josh Groban. And red wine. That did it. Seriously, doesn't he have the most amazing voice? All raw and jagged emotion must melt away immediately upon listening to him sing Christmas songs. It's gotta be in the rule book somewhere.
Now I feel like this, post melt:
But after soaking myself in snippets of holiday joy to oust the funky mood that had taken over yesterday, I have to admit, I'm feeling the Christmas spirit in a big way today. I'm ready to deck the halls, jingle bells, walk in a winter wonderland and have myself a merry little Christmas. I guess listening to Christmas music and focusing on joy was all I needed. Which is sort of funny, because I've been hearing Christmas music played in stores for weeks now (yeah, I know!), and I've been completely unaffected. It must be the angelic voice of Josh Groban. And red wine. That did it. Seriously, doesn't he have the most amazing voice? All raw and jagged emotion must melt away immediately upon listening to him sing Christmas songs. It's gotta be in the rule book somewhere.
Now I feel like this, post melt:
And I'm ready to dress everyone in ribbons and bows and everything in snowflakes and twinkling lights. Elf style. What do you think--too much? Nah, I didn't think so either.
Sadly, I--like so many--am now treating Thanksgiving as a sort of NASCAR start to the holiday season. At least we can hold hands, give thanks and embrace this time of year for the joy and memories it brings while we start our engines. Hopefully, someone somewhere is taking pictures and video so that we can look back at highlights when it's all over. In the meantime, let our hearts be light.