Dear Friend,
Happy Winter to you and yours! Yesterday, Winter Solstice, did seem noticeably short on daylight. I suppose if we are aware of such things, we’ll notice the extra moments of daylight per day as we head through winter into spring and summer. For now, winter might offer you time to try out new techniques in patience as friends and family flock to your kitchen.
What do you have planned for the week? Do you have time off work? Do you have guests coming to stay? Will your kitchen and you be especially busy with holiday creations?
2024 is preparing to hand off the baton to another willing crowd of 365 days. But before that happens, there will be celebrations and get-togethers, and lots of well wishings will roll off our tongues and fall out of our mouths into the air, “Enjoy the Holidays!” or “Have a Glorious Christmas!” or “Merry Dog Adopting!” Good and thoughtful wishes, all!
Wishful thinking. Is that what it is to ‘believe?’
We wish each other Joy at this time of year. I think that ‘believing’ is a gigantic part of finding joy. What do you think about that?
When something is ‘so’ because it is ‘proven,’ it is easy to believe. The snowman melted in the heat of the sun. You can see with your own eyes, he’s now a puddle. Yes, the snowman melted. That’s a heavy reality. Cause and effect.
The sun will come up, tomorrow… well, it always has, so we can expect that to be true, we can believe it because we’ve seen it happen over and over, a truth demonstrated every day of our lives.
At this time of year there are a lot of pretty lights and colorful decorations, all representing a world of smiling and singing, presenting joy with no strings attached. Nothing on it. No agenda. Free. Priceless. Yours, unconditionally.
I’ve heard the term, ‘unconditional,’ used by persuasive people all of my life; it was even associated with the words 'Love, Joy, Peace,' and there were rules to obtain these things. To me, there is a glaring flaw in this because if something were truly unconditional, why would there be so many rules to obtain it? And why would the consequences of straying from the rules be so harsh? When there is 'give' and 'take,' how is it unconditional?
The idea of anything being 'unconditional' does seem to offer a desirable freedom. The term is certainly a well-worn marketing tool.
I think that happiness, the oft times sought after elephant in the room, is personal. It is a sense or feeling that belongs to each person, uniquely. Though a smile might signify a happy heart, it is not necessarily a true representation. No matter who says that they have found the solution to happiness, it doesn’t necessarily mean that they have the solution for anyone else. There aren’t any tried and true ‘rules’ or ‘formulas,’ there aren’t ‘certainties, unequivocal answers, remedies’… it isn’t math. And, think about it, once someone becomes happy, do they forever remain so, like new color on a painted wall? Or are there conditions that adjust the shade and hue?
We are not crayons, wrapped and labeled with one tint to offer the spirit of Christmas. (Though the Crayola crayon wrapper does look an awful lot like a Christmas sweater).
So, as other human beings flounder to tell us how to be happy, it is good to remember that each of us have our very own happiness that is uniquely, boundless, and personal. Of course, there are balances to find and ever-evolving conditions to manage, but the ability to be happy, to have joy, is inside there.
I believe it is there – and I’m grateful for it. That makes me glad.
Have you ever built a snowman? I’ve always wanted to but haven’t, yet. Years ago, my mom and I were visiting my sister in Ohio during an icy February week. As we drove along a quiet street in a tree-lined neighborhood, my mom saw a snowman up in someone’s yard. It had a hat and scarf, little stick arms and a carrot nose. My mom barely waited for the car to stop before hopping out and trudging up the hill, through the snow, to hug her new frozen friend. Just then, the homeowners drove up to see our mother embracing their wintery yard art. They saw that she was happy; they let her be. : )
With unforced, genuine enthusiasm, Frank and I want you to know that if we could make it happen, we would be thrilled to host a Warm, Happy Gala in the name of Good, Kind, Friends. When and if such a thing ever becomes possible, of course, you’ll be the first to know!
We realize that this is a busy time but when you can, please write to us and let us know how you are doing. We wish you a peaceful week, sprinkled generously with love and joy!
Gently Be,
Leslie and Frank