‘Tis the Season

A blog post from Shire on Tuesday, December 20th, 2011

The first snowfall always makes me nostalgic for my childhood.  Warm thoughts come flooding back when I start to unpack my decorations and begin to unwrap each ornament to hang on the tree.  Fondly, I recall dancing to the Nutcracker Suite for hours in my Grandparent’s living room while my Grandma baked cookies in the kitchen.  I remember watching the colorful lights sparkle outside, the snow adding a comforting glow to the branches.  I remember slipping into my warm bed and falling asleep while listening to my parents speak softly at the dining room table while wrapping gifts to put under the tree. These special times are simply some of the dearest memories I have.  I realize as an adult, they all revolve around my family and loved ones.

Its easy in this day and age to take the simple things for granted.  We surround ourselves with electronic devices, cellphones and computers, which although beneficial to our daily lives – can also distract us from what is really important.

This holiday season I’ve made a promise to myself to enjoy the simple things I did as a child.  I will go outside and catch a snowflake on my tongue, I will bake holiday cookies (and eat without guilt), I will gaze out my window-rather than shutting the blinds, I will enjoy cold and snowy evenings by the fire, I will listen to the Nutcracker Suite and I will dance!  Lastly, I will enjoy what the holidays have always meant to me, spending time and making new memories with the people I love.