How to bring ease, grace and joy to this holiday season

It is December already!  The end of the year looms, and the beginning of a new year is imminent.  To get there however, we have to make it through the holiday minefields of parties, shopping, cooking, entertaining, giftgiving.  The very thought raises our stress levels!

Now is a good time to affirm ease, grace and joy.  Visualise a holiday that is easy, simple, joyful.  What would it look like?  What would you eliminate?  And what would you add?  In short, what is really important to you?

Much to my children’s chagrin, I have been toying with the idea of not giving gifts this Christmas.   I have spent the last year clearing our my mother’s home after her passing, and my own home in Jamaica in preparation for my move to Canada.   I have sold, thrown or given away so many gifts that were selected and given with love.  At the moment of releasing them, I realized that what was important was the kindness, caring and thoughtfulness of the person, not the thing itself.  The physical gift is gone; the real gift of love remains.  So I play with this notion of what a Christmas morning with no gifts to open would be like.    Oh dear – kind of uncomfortable, for who doesn’t like the fun and surprise of opening gifts?  Within that act are the memories of all the Christmases I have ever experienced, the traditions that we have built over the years.  Perhaps it’s time to let them go and be present to the true gift – the love and company of family and friends.  Giving no gifts would eliminate the stress of shopping crowds, traffic, wrapping and delivering the gift and facing the credit card balance in January.  Actually, it sounds like a good deal to me!  I still need to get a bit more comfortable with this idea.   Or maybe I will just do it – and see what happens!  Could be the start of something new and wonderful!

Today, this first day of December, think of one change you can make this Christmas that would bring you ease, grace and joy.   Play with it a bit – if it feels comfortable, then do it.  And if it feels uncomfortable – just do it.