A Christmas Past... and Opening Doors

Oh 2024... What Adventures await me in your timeline?
I'm looking forward to expanding in some ways, and contracting in others...
Can you relate?

When I was a kid, I was "blessed" with Christmas trees full to brimming with gifts underneath. You see, my father grew up very poor and his being able to provide a rich and wonderful Christmas was always a high priority for him and gave him a feeling of pride. It was his goal to give his family a magical Christmas every year by providing an impressive pile of presents. Presence, however, wasn't always part of what lay under that tree.

For me, I'll never forget the year I snuck out of my room to see if Santa came. Little Marcia, sneaking around the corner of our darkened hallway into the living room with the tree lit all night long ONLY on Christmas Eve, for Santa to be able to see his way in I always thought.

SUDDENLY before I could even turn the corner, the storm door leading into our house swung open with a bang and scared the bejabbers out of me. Oh man!
SANTA WAS HERE!

I scooted as quickly as possible back to my room, afraid that it was Santa coming in and knowing that I wasn't supposed to be up. That feeling of sheer terror at being caught and of excitement that Santa was actually AT MY HOUSE is something I will never forget! I ran back to my room as silently as I could in my pajamaed feet and quickly jumped back into bed, pretending to be asleep just in case he came to look. I never did get a chance to see the tree. Good thing! Seeing the piles already there may have ruined the whole illusion for me.

The next morning, I don't remember what I got, but I sure do remember that outside door swinging open and the excitement it brought me. I'm pretty sure I got a lot of enjoyment from my gifts, but that memory of Santa's presence has brought me more Joy and Amusement than anything I received.

Which brings me back to the Present (pun intended? maybe) and my goal of expanding. This year, we're swinging open the door to new possibilities; playing it pretty cool between the financial chaos of job loss and figuring out how to make this retirement gig burst into flame like the Phoenix to become something alight with new opportunities. (How does one take a passion and turn it into that elusive "field of dreams", anyway?) We've decided that togetherness, enjoying the Presence rather than presents of others is what's important: goofy games, singing awful karaoke from the tv, and breaking bread is what's in store for us this year. And it feels GLORIOUS! No last minute wrapping, no extra bills to pay, and lots of FUN!

And contracting? Reigning in spending, taking baby steps to better health rather than jumping into unrealistic plans that we know we'll drop by noon, focusing on the positive and what our dreams can bring us rather than looking at the event horizon and getting sucked in directions we don't want to go...
So for me, 2024, I release fear, negativity, past trauma, and insecurity. I invite PRESENCE instead of presents. I swing open my door to invitation and new experiences. I see my living gifts wrapped in blankets, sweaters, and more than a little bit of fur, knowing that it's what's underneath that is important. I invite others into my life and welcome them with warmth, compassion, and support...

I wish you Warmth and the Glow of others' Presence in your Life!

Blessings and Happy Holidays to You and Yours.

Marcia