A Little More In

I don't quite know how or when but a number of years ago I stopped putting anything up for Christmas at all.  (The holiday my family has traditionally celebrated at this time of year since there are several around this time of year!)

I think it was probably partly that it can all be/feel like too much and also my own internal struggles I suppose.

This year, again, I'm not sure why, I felt like doing a little something more festive.  (While still trying hard not to get overwhelmed and stressed by the felt pressures of the season and expectations.)

So I got myself some little battery powered mini lights that I put up around my window that turn on at dark and off when I head to bed (they have a 6 hour "timer").

Then I got myself a little mini battery powered ceramic tree that I light up when I feel like a little bit of colourful happy.

And I got an external DVD player so I can watch Christmas movies on my laptop (they took the internal DVD player out several iterations ago).

When I was looking for the DVDs (they're actually all our family favourites I bought my parents years ago but they gave away, I think because they don't have a DVD player anymore?) to bring out, I found a door hanging display that I forgot I bought, I think last year.

So it's feeling really nice to be wanting to see some visual Christmas things around my space and to put up things that may bring a smile to others.  (I have a few neighbours who put up something on their door for various times of year and it's always nice.)

It feels like something in me shifted, or softened, or whatever metaphor you want to use and so I have a few small happy making Christmas things around.

And I was able to find, a bit last minute, a "cheap" advent calendar for the month... the one tradition I never did let go of.  (And by "cheap" I mean it cost less than $2 rather than the upwards of $12 ones that seem to have taken over this year!  I just want me my fake plastic chocolate shaped like a star!)