In his beautiful book "Walden," Thoreau said of winter, "When the ponds were firmly frozen, they afforded not only new and shorter routes to many points but new views from their surfaces of the familiar landscape around them."
When I was a young person, my father came home from work one day and declared he had quit his job to start his own business. We believed in him. But, at the same time, we knew in our hearts that times would be lean for a while. And so they were. Yet, my mother - in her infinite wisdom - never made us feel as if we had "less." She would toil early and late, using her creative ability to keep us (my brother and me) beautifully clothed, well-fed, and always entertained.
She purchased a used Singer sewing machine and became our own personal clothier. We gave up television for evenings of showcasing our individual talents. We invited friends, sang, danced, and laughed until we collapsed in exhaustion. And those hours (and years) in my young mind, flew by like a blink.
This behavior would carry over into the holidays, as well. My brother and I, the enterprising young people we were, would make up carefully choreographed performances - me on the piano; and comedy skits - him with his sardonic wit and wisdom. We eventually learned we could make money by selling tickets to our Vaudevillian routines. Too, holiday gifts were hand-crafted sans Mom's powder blue Singer. My memory still recalls falling asleep to the hum and rat-a-tat-tat of its working parts. At supper time, we invited neighborhood friends to our home, and everyone brought a dish to pass. To date, these were the best meals and happiest times I've ever had.
As I grow older, it seems all meaning has given in to media. The rattle and hum of the Singer have translated into a "gotta have this, can't live without that," mentality of bigger, faster, more. And although much time has passed and times are not as lean as they once were, I long for the joy that I felt as a child at holiday time.
As we move forward into this holiday season, I propose we all take a few moments to reflect on ways we can bring the magic back to the holiday. I believe we can do this by sharing our most exact gifts: those inside our hearts. It costs nothing more than time to love each other, after all. And perhaps in doing so, we can view life as Thoreau once did. For as he said of his winter pond in Walden, a fresh perspective can bring about unique beauty in what was once an otherwise routine pathway.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Laura M. Turner, journalist, author and Certified Natural Health Practitioner is the creator of the Body Talk eZine: Nature's Anti-Aging Treasures Website. She invites you to join her "10 Years Younger" Campaign and to learn more about living younger, healing yourself and those you love with quality retail or wholesale Young Living essential oils and essential oil-based products. Visit today and begin a healthier tomorrow.
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