holiday time ... and "stuff"

The Christmas season is upon us. I don't mind saying that before Thanksgiving. It doesn't make me enjoy Thanksgiving less. I like to get an early start on easing into the Christmas season because I love the beauty all around this time of the year.

I don't know if it's because of the political season we just endured or if something has been building in me for a long time but "stuff" around my home, in my personal living space, makes me less... happy... it seems to take joy away.... and I want a simpler home... a simpler Christmas. Simple in that I don't want a lot of decorations or glitter or added clutter in my life.  I hate to describe the beautiful things I've accumulated over the years as clutter, but just because things are pretty doesn't mean I have to find a place for every piece of it in my home during the holidays. Lately I have looked around my home and have seen too much. As I take things away, put things away, give things away, donate things ... peace settles more into my spirit and it's so needed and kind of wonderful. I need to translate that wisdom now to my Christmas decorating! 

The thought of dragging out boxes of Christmas decorations and finding a place for them seems like a weight to me.  So I am looking through the boxes and taking a few things out and leaving the rest for another time... another year....

Since I've been purging my house of clutter lately I don't want to give up the simplicity. I'm not a grinch and I love Christmas wholeheartedly  but I want to actually SEE things... clearly and with thoughtfulness. It seems the more stuff I have around the less I see what is actually there! I'm feeling very excited and encouraged and joyful with the thought of just decorating my tree .... maybe two trees! ....  and taking out a few things that I love that make me happy. Simple. I hope to continue this throughout the rest of the months to come. It feels relaxed and peaceful ....

 

My quest and challenge for this coming beautiful season.... and the years ahead!