I remember my own Christmases as a child. It was always a huge deal to get a fresh Christmas tree and decorate it. It was fun for me because I got charged with putting a few ornaments on the tree after which my dad plugged in the lights and there it effortlessly was! A beautifully illuminated tree for me to gaze at in wonder. Until I was an adult and had my own children, I never considered that perhaps the Christmas “traditions” were not so fun and fabulous for the adults in my life.
As I think about it now, I remember my dad dragging our Christmas tree up a flight of stairs, trying to get it straight in it’s stand, drilling the trunk and attaching branches to make the tree perfectly symmetrical for my mother. I recall my father struggling with the lights – first he would have to untangle them from the previous year when they were thrown in their container. Next, he would have to plug in each strand to check for burned out lights so he could replace them. I’m probably dating myself. Things are much easier now. But there is still much work involved in decorating for the holidays.
As time went on and I got married and had my own family the Christmas celebration moved to my house and guess who realized how much work it is to decorate? I DID! Decorations are love. Think of the joy you may have experienced when you were little. We decorate for the children and for ourselves. Decorating for the holidays provides memories, strengthens relationships between ourselves, our spouses and our kids.
The decoration rituals that we fondly remember change as we age. Many of my elderly patients ask me, “Why decorate. No one cares!” I say decorate for yourself! Bring out a candle. Sing your own songs as you light the Menorah. Delight yourself. If your childhood holiday memories are not so happy, create your own. It is never too late. Leave the unhappy past right where it is – in the past. How? Stay tuned next week.
Decorate your abode. Decorate your soul. Decorate your relationships.