I really have no writing schedule, do I?
Oh well. While I may not be capable writing against a timeline that saves my wonderful readers from proverbial whiplash, I can assure you that my months-long hiatuses are constructive.
Life moves on: sometimes at a snail’s pace of hollow-eyed daily grind, other times at the speed a rushing waterfall of fulfilling events. These last few months have been a mix of both. Holiday and end-of-year times tend to blend the two quite often in my experience. The important thing to do is remember to look up. See the leaves shift hues. Feel the cold snaps. Hear the season change.
I have to admit something to you: I missed most of the Fall. December is already underway, but it felt like Summer took a bite out the front half of Autumn and Winter slid in, Tokyo-drift style, way sooner than it should have. I was really hoping to get a few more pleasant park walks or cool, late-night drives in before the blizzards came threatening the skies.
Oh well. One positive is the Christmas decorations and nostalgic smells come rolling in early as well. You know the drill — gentle firewood crackling, fir or pine sap fragrances, holly garlands twinkling with hidden lights… It has a very comforting feeling, if you manage to balance it out right. But please, don’t overdo it this year. There is value in the law of subtraction, so I challenge you to use as few lights as possible and maximize the ambiance with maybe a smaller tree, if you can.
Turn all that extra energy towards making the food better than ever. It’s arguably the best part of the holiday season anyway, right? No? Just me? Ok fine. More cookies for me then.
Whatever your focus though, really home in on the people please. I know last year was the really scary year, but this year had its own scares, some more impactful than anyone expected. Cherish, attend, console, celebrate, and inspire this season. Consider in your heart how life has changed in the past year or two; this might be the time to have that honest conversation, or just spend some needed quality-time with those close to you.
You’ve heard this all before, I’m sure. There are plenty of songs about the topic that you are bound to snatch notes of in the shopping centers of your preference. And maybe then you’ll think of me and this little hole-in-the-wall, downtown coffee lounge of a blog that I like to call home.
Happy Holidays everyone
UWC 