I had the pleasure of ending 2011 on a high note. For the first time in 7 years I got to spend the Christmas holiday with my parents and 2 days later most of my siblings arrived to join the festivities. Since we all live miles apart and states apart it was a wonderful opportunity for us to get together. A wonderful time to share our gifts & talents, to reminisce of the past, share our dreams for the future, pass on stories to our children and be surrounded by unconditional love. I so appreciate that each one of us is a unique individual that contributes so much to our family dynamics. We all have our own families and get caught up in daily life, but to stop and make the effort to reunite at this special time of year was magical and good for the soul.
For me the past week was like a warm, welcoming hug; a respite from the rest of the crazy world. I could take a deep breath and exhale completely. I felt safe and relaxed and NO masks are on when I am surrounded by the people that love me the most. I can simply “just be”! Whether it was seeing my parents taking in the awe of the moment, having a deep conversation with my brother, sipping tea with my sister-in-law, trying on clothes with my sister, watching the cousins interact with each other, or sharing a meal together, I feel so blessed to have had the opportunity to be a part of it all. I think I can speak for all of us when I say that just being together was a tremendous gift. I loved creating new memories.
I speak from my heart when I stress to you the importance of surrounding yourself with amazing people. Whether it is your blood family or the family of friends that you create, it is vital to be with people that support you, encourage you & lift you up. I always tell my kids that while you are in our home, we are all special and we should treat each other the best because once you leave our four walls, the world will not always be kind. Our home should be the safe place in which we take off any masks we wear and be our haven of comfort and peace. Just as you would not want a thief to enter your home and steal your belongings, you cannot let those that will steal your joy and happiness into your life. You must protect yourself from people whose intentions will never have your best interest and do not add positivity to your life. Let’s face it, life is busy & short and after we get all of the “have to do’s” done, there isn’t much time to waste. Make the choice to create memories & moments and share quality time with those that inspire, encourage, have the ability to love deeply, laugh loudly and embrace you just for being YOU! You are worth it!
If you have good people in your life, remember to let them know how much you appreciate them and take the time to spend some quality time with them and create new and wonderful memories! Even if miles separate you, there is such comfort in knowing that when you do have the opportunity to reconnect, that you are able to pick up where you left off and not skip a beat.
Just Sayin’,
Christina
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