Light up the holidays

One of the things that I love the most about this time of year are all of the beautiful Christmas lights.  The sun sets so early.  The nights are long.  The weather is chilly.  These twinkling lights bring such warmth and cheer.

Just like those Christmas lights, we need to bring light to the world.  We are living in challenging times.  Our mood is a reflection of what we surround ourselves with, our vision of the world.  If we let ourselves become overwhelmed with negative emotions, if our only focus is on what we are missing out on because of the pandemic, we will have chosen to snuff out our light.  It’s not always easy to maintain a positive attitude but our own mindset has an effect on those around us.  If we project negativity, it will be reflected back to us.  Alternatively, if we project a positive outlook, those around us will be happier too.  

It’s not just the outdoor lights that bring holiday cheer.  We light the menorah at Hanukkah, or the candles on the advent wreath leading up to Christmas.  Our Christmas trees are sparkling with lights.  Let’s each become a candle, a small beacon of light.  One candle brings only a very limited amount of light.  But that one candle can light another candle and soon light is creeping into those dark corners. 

Today, I had to make the decision to postpone our Tuesday evening “Ewe Love to Knit” nights until early January due to government restrictions on gatherings.  I received a sweet note in response from one friend checking in to make sure we were all OK and to let us know that, if we needed anything at any time, we should just touch base.  This truly warmed my heart and is the perfect example of what I mean when I speak about being a beacon of light, of hope, of kindness.  

Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Omisoka, Winter Solstice or Hogmanay, I wish each and every one of you the joy and peace of this holiday season.