I am systematically packaging up the decorations for another year. My husband would almost be proud of me for doing it so neatly.
I say almost because he was so much better at it than I am. My “neatest” would still be a far cry from what would be acceptable to him.
We each had different areas of expertise. This was one of his.
As I pack these treasures safely away for another year, I replace them with the everyday items that were moved to make room for them.
Some of my possessions will be replaced with better ones that I received as gifts. Others that I treasure will never be discarded no matter how “ratty” they become.
Some of the books that sit beside me at my computer desk will be different than the ones that were there before I started decorating for Christmas.
Part of saying “goodbye” to the old year and “hello” to the New Year involves looking at the path we have been walking and deciding what parts of it we remain committed to.
Very few of us will do it exactly as we have been doing. At least, I never do. I always find that Christmas changes me a little bit. I think I am one of those people who live my life from one Christmas to the next.
Christmas always seems to tell me what I don’t like about my life – how I want it to be different. It is like my yearly audit. I have eleven more months before it is time to prepare for my next Christmas. How do I want it to be different? What can I start doing about that now?
