’tis the season

When the temperature is +15ºC and the wind is howling up the lane, driving the torrential rains sideways, it’s hard to believe that it’s barely more than three weeks until Christmas.

This year it feels different – not worse, just different. Many people are whining about all of the things they can’t do. A friend of mine posted about that on Facebook and offered the excellent advice that we should be focussing on what we CAN do, not on what we can’t.

And how right she is. Thanks to the pandemic, many of us have MORE time than we’ve ever had before and what a gift that is. We have time to savour that delicious cup of coffee. We have time to create things – be they words on paper, crafty gifts for friends and family, baked goods or whatever. It doesn’t matter – we have TIME.

So, with all that time on your hands, why not do something to make someone else smile? You could hand write a Christmas note or card – what joy to open a real letter on a winter’s morning? You could pick up your phone and actually TALK to someone – not just text.

Take some time to make yourself happy. Drive around your neighbourhood in the evening and admire everyone’s Christmas lights and decor. Stay home with a cosy blanket, a good book and a cup of tea. Listen to whatever genre of music makes you smile – whether it’s something toe tapping or something that will lull you to sleep with a smile on your lips.

Maybe you can’t have hoards of people in your house for Christmas celebrations, but if you like to cook, you can always bake anyway and drop off some special cookies for a lonely neighbour. If you can’t share your holiday feast with family and friends, why not enjoy the extra free time not spent cooking for hours and have a more simple meal. Then put your feet up, relax and enjoy the peace and quiet.

Depending on the weather, you could enjoy spending some time outside. Go for a walk. Make a snowman (if there’s any snow). Skate on a pond – just have fun! It is possible to enjoy this season of respite just before the raging storms of January arrive. Slow down, breathe deeply and above all, relax. Perhaps this is the lesson of the pandemic – life isn’t meant to be lived at a whirlwind pace after all.

’tis the season for shiny things, twinkling lights and good will to all. Enjoy it.