Merry Christmas, Everyone! You don’t have to be in a snow-laden town to feel the spirit of Christmas all around you because the spirit of Christmas resonates inside each of us. Whether or not we allow ourselves to feel this joy and magic is a decision we each get to make and I hope that you're all feeling the magic of Christmas this year!
The holiday season is the time where I reflect on the people and opportunities that I am so blessed to have in my life. The holiday season is also an emotional time for me because it brings to mind all of the people that I am without and have lost.
When I was eleven years old I lost my older brother. While I feel this loss every day of my life, I especially feel it during the holidays. What would I have gotten him for the holidays this year? What advice would he have given me? Unfortunately, these are answers I’ll never know for sure. This experience with loss, however, allows me to really appreciate all of the people that I DO have in my life even more.
Being on a different continent than my family in Ireland also makes the holiday season bittersweet as I see those around me having big family celebrations. I was fortunate enough to visit my family in October where we had a wonderful pre-Christmas Christmas dinner. It was one of the most memorable Christmases I’ve ever had… and it was in October! But that’s what family is for. It’s making the memories that you’ll carry with you forever, even if the timing is a little off!
While it is easy to focus on what you’ve lost and are without this holiday season, make the choice to focus on what you are so blessed to have instead. We have all experienced loss, but it’s these trying experiences that help shape us into the people we are today. Make the choice to let your negative life experiences inspire you to be a better person and appreciate what you're so fortunate to have!
I will leave you with a quote from Walter Anderson to help guide you through this holiday season and into this New Year that is fast approaching.
“I am responsible. Although I may not be able to prevent the worst from happening, I am responsible for my attitude toward the inevitable misfortunes that darken life. Bad things do happen; how I respond to them defines my character and the quality of my life. I can choose to sit in perpetual sadness, immobilized by the gravity of my loss, or I can choose to rise from the pain and treasure the most precious gift I have – life itself.”
Remember, these difficult and trying times are not what define us, but the way in which we react to them is what reveals our true character. I hope you’re all able to focus on your blessings this holiday season and learn and grow from your losses! XO