This year is hard, I know.
People are hurting, not doing well. Momisodes and her husband, like millions of others, are looking for work.
My friend Michelle just had her car broken into this weekend outside the freakin' VET in the middle of the day, and was cleaned out to the tune of thousands. (there's a special room in hell for you, fucker...I should know, I'll be right across the hall)
I lost my cousin this year to cancer, and a friend to drugs.
Our moms won't be around, and they always made Christmas special.
So in the face of getting older and feeling Christmas less and less, and with the world handing you it's giant giftwrapped pile of shit, what do you do?
Try this...tonight, FORCE yourself to sit down with your kids, read a holiday book, and talk about Christmas. Talk about the meaning, the religion if it suits you, the presents. Talk about when you were kids, and share happy memories about family get-togethers...and yes, make them up if you have to.
And just watch the faces of your kids.
I am discovering finally that Christmas, unfortunately, no longer happens to me without effort...I make it happen. But when I see what happens to the faces of the people I love, that's when it really happens TO me...
If you are having trouble still, try two things to find it...images and music. Go see some of Tabitha's images she is taking at Christmastime...she has a beautiful eye, and her work conjures up fantastic feelings. In addition, there are great songs that do it too...like these ones. If you want to come back and hear the other songs I find, try going to Daddy's Anthems on the menu bar above, I will try to keep it updated with the songs I find that are "helping us" to create a beautiful Christmas around here. Josh Groban is a no-brainer, but listen to Lucy Rhodes...if her voice doesn't lift you, you very well may be dead inside. Or just tone deaf. Right honey? ;-)
Make it happen.
Josh Groban - Believe
Lucy Rhodes - Count Your Blessings
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19 comments:
Great post, Jay. And at least those celebrities are doing OK.
I have come to realize that I have to make Christmas happen for me too. I have been spending a lot of time trying to make Christmas happen for a lot of other people in my life. It is a tough year but my daughter has helped me keep
my focus on the positive things.
Great post Jay, thanks for sharing the song/video.
Superb post, I need to make Xmas happen and I love when little things make it happen for me!
I did exactly this this weekend- as hard as it was! I plan to post tomorrow about it... so great to know we're not alone in putting on a 'happy' face for Christmas.
Our car has been stolen 3 times- I feel your pain, there!
I lost my job a few months ago and it had been tough. But as 'bad' as I have it this Christmas I have changed my outlook and realized that we have it damn better then some. I have volunteered to work with the homeless and really given myself and been available for people when I wouldn't have been before and it has made a differene in how I see things. SO this Christmas may not be bountiful with things, but it sure will be bountiful with blessings. Great post Jay!!
ps. My girls love watching the x-mas disney vault clips on youtube. we have been watching 2-3 a night. They are the cool things that we watched as kids and you don't ever see anymore!
Thanks Jay, I needed that today. That was just awesome.
This year will be the best Christmas yet for our children. Not because of the presents, not because of anything other than....we are happy. I am happy is more like it. No stress. No running from here to there. Just taking it easy and REALLY enjoying everything. Slow down - enjoy the view. (my new motto)
Thanks!
I'm guiltily enjoying the holiday season while my cousin sits across town a new widow carrying her third child. It seems totally unfair and every day I give thanks for what I have and I say a prayer for her and for her babies. My heart is broken, but I will still be thankful.
Good post!
Great post!! Thanks for the mention. I definitely find that with my little one running around, getting excited about all that we're doing (simply) for Christmas... it really helps get me into the Christmas spirit!
I'm sorry for your loss as well. I hope you're able to find great joy this season, in the midst of it all.
There is for sure a different air this season than before... our house was just broken into last week... never happened before, it's always been so safe. Needless to say, we've had a brand new alarm system installed this weekend... and we're keeping up our holiday spirits none the less!!! (and we're blessed that we're all safe and healthy)
We're all excited about enjoying as much family time together as we can this winter!!!
:)
~Tabitha~
freshmommyblog.com
That is the problem with being a grown up. Now it is on you to make it special & wonderful for others as well as yourself. No one warns your about that when you have a baby.
Fortunately this year we are going to visit the Grandparents for a week & they are experts at making christmas wonderful. I will be taking notes
nice try, but i don't know if i can.
stumbled your post...(I hope I did it right...Carissa will tell me maybe if I did)
we all need to take a step back and think about the real meaning of the holidays!
wow, that is beautiful!!! that girl can sing!!! thanks!! on a sied note, i have to MAKE it happen, too. ever since my son went to heaven, it's just not the same...
I think you are absolutely right.....Christmas is what we MAKE it. I'm sorry for your losses this year.....I'm going to go reminisce now. :)
Those are beautiful - thanks for sharing. I have never heard of Lucy Rhodes before, her voice is amazing!!
Great post...especially today...I am having a really depressing day for some reasoN!
I knew I loved you for a reason. You are not just another pretty face, Jay-man.
AMEN.
To all of it.
I can't believe that I've never heard Lucy Rhodes.
Thanks for this Jay!
2008 has really been topsy-turvy (to put it politely. WHY 'polite'? I don't know.)
Our family has experienced emotional all-time highs and extreme lows.
I've put myself into the mode of baking cookies and singing Christmas songs as loud as my family will tolerate. I just feel I have to.
My children may not love my voice but they LOVE the cookies!
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