Live in the Moment

As we dug out from the aftermath of the Big Daddy Blizzard of 2010, it felt like a  blessing  to be able to stay home.

Having worked in numerous jobs for decades of my life, I'm still one of those souls who truly believes that home keeping hearts are happiest. At least my heart is happy when I'm able to spend a day at home in whatever way I please.

Yesterday, because it was cold and blustery, with snow framing our windows like glittery sugar, the fire in the fireplace got started at noon and never waned.  With great joy, I read the huge stack of Christmas cards again as well as holiday newsletters from friends and family, near and far. 

Because Christmas is the only time I hear from some of these dear ones, the newsletters are like candles in the night to me. Some people cannot stand receiving holiday newsletters but I"m not one of them.  It's great to catch up on the news of what each person and his family members have been up to this year.

As the afternoon hours ticked by, I also wrote out a stack of thank you notes for holiday gifts. When a person takes valuable time and effort to select a gift, spend money to buy it,  wrap it, and then present it, I think it's a basic courtesy to acknowledge it with a note. Not everyone would agree with me but that's okay, too. Each to his/her own. It's fulfilling to write out my holiday thank you notes! Expressing gratitude is never a bad thing.

By the time evening came and the night sky replaced the afternoon's brightness, I felt peace and a touch of sadness. The end of each year does that.  No one knows what the new year might bring or even if there will be a "next" Christmas. The key to dealing with these solemn thoughts is to live in each moment. After all, that's all any of us has---"now." 

So I'm going to throw yet another log onto the fire and keep it going until my eyes feel like they have cement lids. These quiet, peaceful moments are very, very precious and special.

ARE YOU ABLE TO LIVE IN THE MOMENT? HOW?