Christmas is Over…Now What?

Christmas is over. Now what? The days immediately following Christmas are just weird. I don’t know how else to explain it. After all of the preparations and hype of Christmas…BOOM! It’s over. The presents have been unwrapped, family has come and gone (or maybe not), and all is quiet again. The tree that was so relaxing and beautiful is now looming in the corner..should I wait until New Years Day to take it down or just get it over and take it down today?

Should I take the tree down?

Some leave their trees up until January 5th to celebrate the true twelve days of Christmas. Others say it is bad luck for the New Year if your tree is still up when the clock strikes midnight on January 1st.

One year, over twenty years ago, I left my Christmas tree up until March. Seriously, March. I really don’t remember why, but I do remember that I just loved the way the tree looked that year and chose to leave it up a bit longer. I think “a bit” lasted a little too long! I don’t recall having any worse luck that year than any other year…but I don’t recall a whole lot about anything, anyway!!

Sadness, relief, expectations?

Some people find this time to be very depressing. All of that build up, and now a whole lot of nothing. Some people that can’t stand Christmas are now breathing a huge sigh of relief. Others are planning for the new year. Some make resolutions that they fully intend to keep..intend is the key word here. I love to drive by the local YMCA after January 1st and look at the overflowing parking lot! Give it a couple of weeks and then drive by the gym again- big difference in the amount of cars in the parking lot!

I  have one tradition that I do every year as I take my tree down. I started doing this when my oldest son was about 2 or 3, and he is 33 now. Wow, 30 years I’ve done this! I get out a piece of paper and write down every noteworthy thing that happened in my life during this past year, what is currently happening in my life, and any specific wishes for the future. After I write it, I throw the piece of paper in the box with the Christmas tree. I always completely forget about it, so it’s a fun treat to read when I get the tree out to put up the next year. It’s amazing what changes one little year can bring. I wish I had saved those little scraps of paper throughout the years.

I don’t make resolutions, because I would break them. I do set goals..goals that I like to keep to myself. There is one thing that I plan to make a conscious effort to do in the upcoming year. I read this quote from Heath Ledger:

That’s something to think about, isn’t it? Happiness. That’s what it should be all about. I intend to concentrate on happiness. If I run into an acquaintance, the only thing I’ll ask is how they are and if they are happy. My son sent me a text with a picture of a symbol on it a few months ago, saying he intends to get this as a tattoo. I asked him what the symbol meant, and he said “Happiness Above All”.

In 2019, I wish all of you happiness above all.