Until I saw them shivering in the rain outside of my apartment building last week, it hadn’t really hit me that I wouldn’t see them on Thanksgiving.
My nephew and nieces ran from my sister toward me in their galoshes, raincoats and facemasks to announce why they had stopped by. They handed me a pink gift bag with gold sparkly tissue paper. Inside there was a Mason jar with a votive candle, covered with red- and yellow-shaped leaves and more gold sparkly tissue paper. The kids wrote on tags tied to the candle with a ribbon: “We’re really grateful for you. Light this candle and know that we are with you in spirt.”
Of course, I cried after they left.
Both for the deeply meaningful gesture and for the reality.
For the unwanted distance from those whom we hold dear.
Those that bring meaning to our traditions. To traditions that bring order to our constantly changing lives. To order that gives us something to look forward to. Though can also get us stuck in the past and out of the present.
“This year, I haven’t really been looking forward to Christmas and the Holidays with much anticipation or interest.”
Sound familiar?
I actually wrote that right after Thanksgiving, way back in 2013. It was in a post on one of my very first blogs—the adorable first generation of Everyday Integrity—that I forgot about until the other day.
Then, as now, one of my best friends and I were struggling to get into the holiday spirit. So, I wrote an Advent Series of blog posts—one every day until Christmas as a gift for her. Each post had something special about this time of year. An ode to the little things. A new link to open each morning.
That commitment keep me present all holiday season long.
Each day I needed to find the holiday spirit in the world around me. Some days I literally ran into Mrs. Claus in the grocery store. Other days it was a s-t-r-e-t-c-h. It truly turned into the gift that kept on giving. Almost more for me than for my best friend.
It helped me see past all of the shopping-buying-wrapping-shipping-traveling-cooking-overeating-drinking stress, to get back to the Tiny Tim essence of the holiday spirit. The generosity, the magic, the love, the little things.
Like a handmade candle to be with my family in spirit this Thanksgiving. Or the email from my dad the other day, Subject: “Merry Xmas,” with a year’s subscription to The New York Times.
What would Tiny Tim say about this year—staying a crutch length away from everyone, if together at all during the holidays? These holy days of dark winter.
“God bless us, every one!”
May you cherish all the little things this week.
Love,
Jules
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