This holiday season has been filled with delays, conflicts, leaks, flooding, friends and family in need of assistance, stress, home remodeling, trepidation, sadness, a major decision, tender moments, my birthday, lots of travel, renewed friendships, some tears, awe, delight, joy, relief,and, thank goodness- a lot of laughter. I’ve witnessed an eventful three weeks (to say the least), at the culmination of 2009.
I would imagine that I am joined in many of my feelings, and also in some of my adventures.
At this time of year I am always reflecting-reflecting with the arrival of Winter, reflecting with my December birthday, and reflecting with the approaching New Year. This year, the reflection has a different flavor, carrying with it the end of a decade, and the beginning of a new one. So much has transpired from the start of the millennium until now. We have seen tremendous changes in the world- collectively, and personally.
“And Then- There Was Snow.”
Snow came on the weekend before the celebration of Christmas. Snow in all of it’s glory- silently falling; cascading down to be cradled boldly by the Earth.
We all see weather extremes in various ways- from despising them to delighting in them, and somewhere in between. I found myself joining in my son’s excitement at the time of the snow’s falling, and also in that first sled of the season. But at the moment that I stopped feeling my toes-I quickly joined the ranks of grumpy- snow- resenters.
.“Lots of Snow on the Ground”-Day Two
My 7-year old was putting his snow pants on almost as soon as he opened his eyes on the morning after the BIG SNOW. As a single parent, I knew that this would be my responsibility to cater to my sweet child’s childhood.
With so much to do during the last week before Christmas- I found myself slipping into a slightly panicked feeling, that promised to grow with every passing minute.
The once beautiful snow was now looking increasingly mushy and gray,
…and cold; if cold has a look to it. I think it does.
As I continued down that mind trail with my larger than life to-do’s in tow, I suddenly became aware of a voice in the background of my muddled thinking. It stopped me dead in my tracks, and it had something very important to say-a familiar cartoony voice, with a message that I needed to hear.
That day my holiday gift came early and it came from an episode of Sponge Bob.
I stopped for a moment and paused, becoming mesmerized.
“Sponge Bob”, Patrick starts, “We need to be living in the moment.”
Patrick then grabs Sponge Bob and starts running with him under his arm- football style.
Sponge Bob calls out sounding worried,”Where are we going Patrick?”
“To live Sponge Bob, to live.” Patrick answered back boldly.
In the next few days I ran across many reasons to get stressed, and at moments I did, but I also continued to hear Patrick’s funny voice.
My son has only one childhood and I, only one adulthood, at least in this lifetime. Our lives can be quickly changed in an instant. This coming year may be our best year yet, or it may hold the biggest challenge we have ever had to bear, or maybe a combination of the two.
As 2010 falls upon us, it is my wish that we experience optimal health, crazy amounts of happiness, strong financial flow, deeper relationships, and greater awareness; especially greater awareness.
As we cross the threshold into a new decade, may we slow down and empty our minds enough to hear the special messages we need to hear-just like the one I heard from the Sponge Bob episode.
“To Live, My Friends, To Live!”
Happy New Year!
