“Just imagine becoming the way you used to be as a very young child, before you understood the meaning of any word, before opinions took over your mind. The real you is loving, joyful, and free. The real you is just like a flower, just like the wind, just like the ocean, just like the sun.”
~ Miguel Angel Ruiz
We’re having a simple Christmas this year. Just my husband and I, Nurse Bert and Cafe Dog. For most of the day anyway. Our little farm-house is filled with love, badly wrapped gifts under a small lopsided tree with dodgy tinsel and over-sized baubles, and a fridge full of good food – more than enough to share.
Christmas has not always been an easy time for me. Family stuff. You know how it is. But a few years ago I decided to reclaim Christmas, to see it as an opportunity to spread ‘peace on earth and goodwill to all men’.
Starting first with myself.
Today, Christmas Eve here in Australia, I’ll walk on the beach, swim in the ocean, take some time for myself, count my blessings, hug my husband and my dogs, and top up my gratitude tank. Breakfast in the Bay (that’s Byron Bay!) and a good coffee or two. That’s my gift to me.
Then I’ll be ready for sharing the Christmas Spirit with others.
We’ll be dropping off our goody bags of homemade festive fudge, coconut ice, rich fruit cake and other tasty treats to all of the people who’ve helped and supported us this year. The library ladies, baristas and wait staff, the market vendors, the excavator man, and the bush mechanics, and the man who is always fixing our mower/chainsaw/everythingfromtheshed.
We’ll call on a few elderly friends to make sure they are okay, and take them a little parcel of Christmas cheer.
This afternoon I’ll make a pot of tea and sit on the veranda with my journal, reviewing the year that was, and being thankful for all I’ve come through, and all that has cracked my heart wide open. It’s been a big and challenging year, but a good one too.
I’ve told our friends we’ll be home all day tomorrow, apart from an early morning beach swim. Bless them, they want us to have time alone. So we will. But late in the afternoon a few will drop by, despairing of the loneliness and emptiness that has been their day, and we’ll gather them around our table. A couple of friends will come here needing a debrief after the family Christmas they just endured. Our home and our arms will be open to them. There is always enough food here to share. Enough love to go around. For so many this is a difficult, fraught time of year. I want to be able to give our friends a safe place to land, and somewhere they can feel welcome, affirmed and loved.
But today, Christmas Eve, this is my day for me.
A day to breathe deeply and surrender myself to the ocean.
A day for lattes and love, and so many cuddles.
Peace in my heart. Good will towards myself. Me first, so that I can then share that same energy with others. For me, that’s the true spirit of Christmas.
I’m holding that space for you too.
All my love, Nicole xx
Aw,i love my flower gift – it’s perfect, Nic! xoooooxoxooooxoxoxoxooooooo Have a lovely, relaxing, loving chrissy and may your year to come be filled with delightful, perfect gifts each and every day xoooxxooo Sal
Your sentiments so beautifully expressed, echo mine! I thank you for being here for us all and for the loving care you give to us…your encouragement through this year, in spite of your own stuff, has given so much, wisdom and love, the sharing of your life…thank you. May you enjoy your festive season and enjoy the love that comes back to you.
Merry Christmas Nicole and thank you for your words of wisdom, insights, thoughts, recipes and anecdotes. I have really appreciated them.
Wow what a Christmas . Love the beach picture so different from ours in Mid Wales … wild waves and wind to blow your head off but we shall be wrapped up and walking Oscar this Christmas Eve morn…by the way I love the lopsided tree with over sized baubles …just like ours .
Happy Days .
Cherryx
Merry Christmas to you and your family, Nicole! Thank you for all that you do, all 365 days of the year! Merry Christmas To All & To All a Good Night!
Thank you for holding that space, Nicole. You and Ben have such kind hearts, which will nurture so many over this festive break. Although I didn’t join the official 3-33 gratitude quest, I write mine out each day and I am very grateful for the part you have played in my spiritual growth this year. Lots of love and hugs, and Merry Christmas to you, Ben, the boys and your friendship group <3 🙂
I am hoping to meet you one day next year!
Sounds like a lovely start to Christmas – peace and the glorious ocean. oh and coffee 🙂 much love to you and your loved ones. xxxx
Gave out my last plate of cookies… relatives and neighbors taken care of…and a few visits finished that I wanted to make…Grandkids tomorrow night…and Love being shared by all!
Have a peaceful Christmas Nicole filled with love and quiet times with Ben, Bert and Harry. I am like you, love making home made baked gifts for friends and assistants at the bank, stores I visit and old work colleagues that I catch up a few times during the year. Enjoy the day with friends that have had too much family and need the “down time” of quietness. Sending love xx
Merry Christmas to you Nicole and your family at the farm.. Sounds like you will be having a beautiful Christmas Eve & Christmas..
Thank you for being your awesome inspirational self this year! I love you heaps! also it has been especially gr8 to see you have all your breakthroughs this year with Lyme.. Hallelujah!! Bring on more universe for 2015 and beyond 🙂 love, light and gratitude.. Xxx
So much LOVE to you, Ben, Bert & Harry…and gratitude for all you give me throughout the year…and bless your ‘birkies’ for giving back to all the wonderful service folk in our community…XX
My Christmas eve will be spent watching my grandsons as their parents spent last night getting drunk to celebrate Jono’s (Blain’s dad) birthday
Merry Christmas Nicole, I hope for you that 2015 brings you much better health. Thank you for all you have shared with us over the year, you, lovely lady are a blessing that I am grateful for. ( Burt and café dog too) I also hope Ben is feeling better now too. Much love xxxx
Ah, wishing you and yours all the very best for the entire festive season, Nicole, and what a lovely gift to give yourself today – a wonderful example to us all.