As I stand in line at a local coffee shop, I hear the common grumble about how commercial Christmas has become. It seems like even before I have a chance to decide how I want my Christmas to be I am being told what to buy, what to do, and what little time I have left to do it. For many of us it would be about honouring family and friends and opportunity to connect, to share a meal, to share a gift from the heart, to create a time of intimacy with those we love. For others it can also be a time of the year when we stop the frantic pace of our lives and acknowledge our spirituality through our religious communities or in our own private rituals.
Holidays can also be difficult.
It can be a particularly painful time of year, when we watch others around us surrounded by family and loved ones and feel the profound sense of loss of a partner, friend, colleague or child. Maybe, it is a time of year when we are far away from our country or communities and find that the holiday season creates a more poignant sense of loneliness. Whatever our circumstances, it is a season where memories both pleasant and painful can be stirred up inside us. Be the architect of the season. I believe that the holiday season provides us with the opportunity to reflect on what is important to us and to choose ways to express these values to ourselves, our families and friends, and our community.