Holiday Humbuggers;)

"Hello Mr. Humbug, Hello Mr. Grimm"
God Bless us Everyone;)

Perhaps you're one of those that is comPLETEly overwhelmed with the holidays. Be it Christmas, New Years, Winter Solstice or any other winterized event that is worth raving about. Maybe the thought of family, friends, gatherings and all the frivolity involved just sounds like a big old energy drain and you don't know what you can do to ease into any of these moments or what you can officially "bring to the party", so to speak. I have a few suggestions, in particular, ones that focus on bringing back the fun in your Christmas and maybe letting go of some expectations of Martha Stewart-like buffets, decorations and home-made (aka thousands of man hours) gifts that are meticulously prepared, made and wrapped or served with unique flair and intention. Some of these have actually been tested by myself (or ones close to me), others just sounded like fun. So here goes:

1. Let it GO! There is a reason why this "Frozen" anthem rings true with so many listener's, we all need to attempt to let some things go, particularly at this time of year... maybe it's shoving things into a closet or closing a door on a less than perfect room in order to throw together an impromptu hot chocolate party. Maybe it's putting aside our differences with family members or seasonal friends (those people that always attend your family parties that you have nothing in common with...) and trying to find something that you can share. Needless to say, maybe this shouldn't necessarily be a "Frozen" anthem? maybe we would all be a lot less stressed in our lives if we could just let.it.go.

2. Gifts of time. Never underestimate the fact that your time can be given as a gift. You don't have to give a $50.00 gift card to someone that already has absolutely everything they need. Maybe it can be an interactive gift, making something with someone, a craft project or some kind of memory that they can keep forever. My mother-in-law loves when we jot a note and wrap it saying, "we will bring a tea party to YOUR house!" or any other gift of time. It's special for everyone and memories don't get thrown into the Salvation Army curbside give away bag.

3. Take a walk and take it all in. Slow down a bit and check out the lights in your neighborhood. Slow down is the key here, I know everything seems to be first on the scale of importance? But if you're exhausted then no fun will be had and your moments will be fuzzy and a blur of busyness.

4. Prioritize. What needs to come first? In appreciation of a season of wonder and love, perhaps acknowledging why we have this season in the first place. Taking more than just a perfunctory moment to bow our heads and thank God for saving us through His son Jesus. What an amazing, loving and thoughtful God to have created a way that we can be with him. This is where my thoughts become overrun, because as a human being I cannot even fathom the sacrifice that He made for us. So take time to thank Him, for humbling himself and coming to earth as a helpless baby, and experiencing everything that we experience...painful humanity, and living life on this earth with us and then allowing himself to be sacrificed in the most excruciating way possible... but THEN overcoming death... yes, this is a part of Christmas, CHRISTmas and acknowledgement of Him will help gain perspective on what is important in our lives. We might all be surprised by the peace that He provides within us when we put the one who created us first in our lives.

5. Give! Do something for a stranger, a distant relative, a frenemy, a neighbor that you never see except when you back out of your driveway at the same time.  See #2 for "gifts of time" there is a lot to be said for taking a moment and dropping a note to someone, calling, texting, waving, hugging, shaking a hand, put a posy in someone's mailbox, sing some Christmas Carols at the mall, hospital or rest home.

I'm pretty sure you mightlook at this list and think AAACK I can't do any of these things, I'm just overwhelmed looking at this post. But maybe you can start with #4 and see where your priorities lie and listen for sweet gentle guidance on what you can do to have a lovely, peaceful holiday season.

So blessings on all of your heads, talk to y'all soon,
xoxo
r

Embrace Imperfectionism

This is a very difficult concept for many of us, reveling in the perfection of the imperfect. It does sound like an oxymoron, but if we try so hard to be perfect, particularly when we're being creative, we have no room to grow. How do we know when we've improved upon something if we keep throwing everything away?

I don't know about you, but many times I find myself paralyzed with the thought that the reality of a project or idea in my head won't match what my fingers eventually will configure. But then, I begin,  I find that the imperfections make a piece unique and all my own, no one else will do it exactly that way, and most of the time the actual imperfections make something a "keeper".

In the Japanese culture there is lovely practice, kintsugi. It is the art of repairing something that is broken, with metal, gold or silver lacquer, with the understanding that the piece is more beautiful for having been broken. So.many.visuals.

Maybe when we're embracing imperfectionism we can identify with something that we've created and how God sees His creations…us… I personally think we all are more attractive with scars, both inner and outer, because it shows we've actually lived, that we've allowed ourselves to have room to grow, make mistakes and hopefully move on.  Just think of how His forgiveness and His love have highlighted a difficult life journey with the gold of kindness and patience, and the silver of empathy, understanding or any other gift that emerges from brokenness.

So maybe we can tie up this concept of imperfection and perfection and package it in regard to our creativity. Maybe in everything we do, whether it be caring for our children, working at our jobs or creating works of art, we can enjoy the freedom that the beauty is not in the perfection of what we do, or the actual product, but of attempting to do it and be ready with the superglue.

xoxo
r
“As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him” (Psalm 18:30)