This time of year brings up many emotions
CHRISTMAS is a time of year that seems to bring up extreme emotions. Some love it and want to prolong the season as much as possible, putting up the tree and many decorations way before the season begins!
There is lots to look forward to and enjoy for most of us. Parties, more time with family and friends, holidays, a rest, relaxation, Christmas magic, Santa Claus, mistletoe, board games, toys, time off, presents, the best of food and wine, alcohol, warm fires, indulgence, over-indulgence, great and even cheesy TV and overall great togetherness.
It is a time for sharing and caring. There are many inspirational charity initiatives inviting us to help and do good for others. Helping others is a great way to connect, feel good, be part of some- thing great and make the world a better place.
It is a time of compassion and understanding. It is a time to address the areas that need to be improved in ourselves, our lives and the wider world. From random acts of kindness to sharing a smile with a stranger to helping a known person in whatever way you can, to helping the homeless or those that have less. We all remember loved ones and people that have been good to us during the year with presents and happy memories. It brings out wonderful generosity as people think of others more than at other times of year. It is the season of good will and jollyness.
Those with difficulties, sadness or grief often feel more lost and lonely. Just as the good feelings strengthen, feelings of Isolation and loneliness can be amplified. The cold weather highlights the difference between the have and the have nots. It is a time of being reminded of pain and sadness of lost loved ones and people that are no longer in our lives for a range of reasons. It is a time of reflection on all the things that happened during the year and the trends in our lives.
If you have things in your life that need to be addressed, solved, improved or let go of, give a little reflection time to that and plan how to make that happen. A good friend of mine once advised someone that was struggling with so many bad memories to create new good ones and remember them. This is great advice. If there are people you have had difficulties with during the year, why not make up with them as much as you can and put the past in the past.
Christmas is a time of many distractions. It is a time of great and powerful connection. It is a time of polar-opposites. It is a time when we remember so many memories of a lifetime.
If it is a happy time for you spread the joy. If it brings up other things do your best to let them go, solve or improve them in whatever way you can and create better memories as a foundation for future years. If you are struggling alone reach out for help. If it brings up grief of a loved-one passed, try and convert to something more uplifting.
Christmas is a very powerful time of year. It brings out the very best in people but also highlights the challenges and problems in society and in our lives and ourselves that are crying out for change.
If there are things you would like to improve, focus your energy on making positive change for you and those around you. Be mindful of the pressures others are under and most importantly, have fun, enjoy and spread your unique and beautiful light with everyone you meet.