How can you express Gratitude this Christmas, when sometimes it feels too hard? For many people this is a happy and joyous, albeit hectic time of year and it’s easy to give thanks. For many others, it can be a stressful and lonely time, where it’s hard to see the silver lining.
I was fortunate enough to grow up celebrating Christmas. We didn’t always have money or the ability to buy lots of presents, but the family always got together with whatever food and gifts we had, to share the love and joy of this special time of year. We had so much to be grateful for.
I know that this isn’t the case for many, and Christmas can be a lonely time. It can also be a difficult time to navigate, with family members that you don’t always get on with. The stress of preparing food, negotiating busy roads and shops, and buying presents can all be a bit overwhelming. Christmas can challenge us all.
However I hope that you find some quiet time amongst the chaos and look out for those peaceful moments. Accept that everything doesn’t have to be perfect. You don’t need to find the perfect gift and it doesn’t need to be an expensive one. You don’t need to prepare all the food – ask for help. Christmas after all, is a time of Gratitude. A time of giving and receiving.
Let go of control and things will be a lot easier. Allow others to accept you as you are and most importantly, love and accept yourself for who you are! You don’t need to be superwoman or superman! Find time to sit in nature and feel the sun upon your face. Feel the serenity around you. Nature does not hurry. Everything will fall into place.
How can you express gratitude this Christmas? Perhaps by finding peace and acceptance for all that you have. As we get closer to the end of another year, I see this as a great opportunity to give thanks for all that the year has brought me. Despite the highs and lows, the joys and the challenges, there is always something to be grateful for.
My own year has been one of transition and it hasn’t always been easy. Earlier this year, my son moved to South Korea and married a Korean girl. This all happened very quickly and was quite challenging for me. Suddenly letting go, trusting his decisions and travelling to a country that both my husband and I knew very little about, was very daunting. I didn’t feel very grateful at all!
However, the experience opened our eyes to another world and the welcome of a new family and new daughter-in-law. I know that I certainly grew through the journey, in the most unexpected ways.
How can you express gratitude this Christmas? Maybe by being in the moment. Lissa Rankin, physician, author and visionary, speaks about giving thanks ‘right now.’ Right now I have a home and a roof over my head. Right now I have food on the table. Right now I have a loving family and friends who care about me. Right now I am healthy. Right now the sun is shining. Right now I can still work and create. Right now I am supported.
What can you do ‘right now’, to find peace and gratitude in your life?
Christmas can be a joyous occasion, but it can also be a difficult one. Perhaps if we choose to look at the things that we can be grateful for ‘right now’, we may find that it is indeed a very special time of year.
Wishing you all a very Happy Christmas and many, many thanks to my wonderful clients who have entrusted me with their Reflexology care and for welcoming me so warmly into your email inbox.
With love,
Judy xxx
Disclaimer: Please note that all information in this article is the opinion of the author and obtained through her research and knowledge and the above references. It is not meant to replace medical advice and a medical opinion should always be obtained for any health condition.
References: Lissa Rankin newsletter 28/11/24, “How to be grateful when things aren’t going your way.” Photo by Joss Boot on Unsplash.