'Tis the season when much media (and personal) energy seems to be focused on producing the "picture perfect" holiday. Entire family assembled in harmonious cheerfulness beside the appropriate holiday symbol. Beautifully-set holiday table with mouth-watering perfectly cooked/crafted courses and perfectly attuned dinner partners (who would never rant about politics, religion, etc. etc.). New car in the driveway with a big red bow on it. Early admissions acceptance of genius child to Stanford...
Well, you get the picture.
If nearly 60 years on this planet has taught me anything, it's that getting everyone to sing in perfect harmony around the tree turns out to be a whole lot harder (= impossible) than shoving characters around in a fictional world of one's creation. I know this to be true, intellectually speaking, yet I'm still learning and backsliding on occasion. So, when I find I'm trying to "push the river" and getting all stressed out as a result, I try to take a step back, take a deep breath, and focus on celebrating the really big and the really little things.
The really big things:
- HEALTH: We are all basically healthy.
- TOGETHERNESS, LOVE, RESPECT: We are together this season; we love and respect each other (in our own, imperfect, idiosyncratic ways).
- WATER, FOOD, SHELTER: We are blessed with all the basics. We have clean water to drink and cook with (right out of a tap!), enough food (plenty! plenty!), and a roof over our heads.
Right there, plenty of reasons enough to celebrate and sing for joy (even if we are not all in tune).
And then, there are the little things to celebrate (i.e., "little" in the bigger scope of things...):
- My fourth book is out. "Mercury's Rise" was published in November. Yay! And nice reviews are out and about as well. (Thanks, Liz, for pointing this one out on Buried Under Books.) Being a fiction author was never part of my "life plan," and I am thankful for this surprising turn of events...
- A cup of coffee with eggnog, in a holiday mug, accompanied by a cheerful bowl of homemade turkey soup and some candles. (Candles not lit in this photo, because it's lunchtime. I'm looking forward to sunset and dinner, though!)
- A book I've been awaiting (for research purposes) arrives in the mail! "Someday All This Will Be Yours: A History of Inheritance and Old Age," by Henrik Hartog. Can't wait to dive in.
Last but hardly least..... Tree lights and a 2-lb box of See's dark chocolate candy!
Sure, some of my list items are serious and some are frivolous (See's chocolate = frivolous?? Never!! ;-) )... but I enjoy exploring the opposite ends of the spectrum.
What about you? Care to share some of the "big and little" things that you are celebrating this season?
Ann, great reminder that we should take a moment to be thankful this season, rather than worry about the holidays being picture perfect.
Some of the big things I'm celebrating this season are that my dad's hip surgery was a success, my first book is still inching closer to that big release next July, and my husband has a good job that allows me to stay home with the kids.
On a smaller note, I'm currently celebrating that those same kids are playing together right now in their new tent and not even bickering (well, maybe a little). Oh, and this delicious caramel mocha I'm sipping -- yum!
Happy New Year!
Posted by: Staci | December 29, 2011 at 08:54 AM
Hello Staci! What wonderful "big and little" things to be thankful for and celebrate! :-D Definitely worthy of a caramel mocha (oooh, that sounds good!). Enjoy every sip and every minute!
Posted by: Ann Parker | December 29, 2011 at 08:59 AM
I have a signed copy of Mercury's Rise. :) Everything you mentioned with proper punctuation. ;) The Internet and all its interesting friendships. Are we not richer because of that? I have a lot to smile about, and I intend to do more of that in the new year. Happy New Year to all!
Posted by: Dani G. | December 29, 2011 at 09:10 AM
A house full of chocolate and lots of people coming and going these last days of 2011 -- lots to celebrate here!
Posted by: Camille Minichino | December 29, 2011 at 09:17 AM
Happy New Year.
Posted by: Liz | December 29, 2011 at 12:10 PM
Hi Dani! Hope you enjoy the story (for the... what?... seventh readthrough? If you find something amiss in the final versin, don't tell me! ;-) )
The Internet, ah yes. Friendships, venues of research that would have otherwise been unobtainable... lots to celebrate there! Have a great new year, and see you around the virtual watercooler! :-)
Posted by: Ann Parker | December 29, 2011 at 12:23 PM
Hi Camille!
Chocolate and friends: an unbeatable combination! Enjoy! :-D
Posted by: Ann Parker | December 29, 2011 at 12:24 PM
Happy New Year to you too, Liz! May it bring you many good books to read and the time to read them. :-)
Posted by: Ann Parker | December 29, 2011 at 12:53 PM
So this year, my company decided to send me on a business trip to the East Coast two weeks before Christmas. I took the opportunity to see the tree at Rockefeller Center and to visit my sister and BIL in Maryland where I got to meet my grandniece (3) and grandnephew (18 months).
Also, all my kids made it home for Christmas Eve and Christmas. I enjoy spending time with them, especially since I haven't seen my daughter (who is a student at UCSD)in a year!
Posted by: Denise Barney | December 29, 2011 at 05:52 PM
Hi Denise! All wonderful things to celebrate, for certain! :-D Thanks for coming by and commenting, and have a great New Year!
Posted by: Ann Parker | December 29, 2011 at 10:16 PM
Thank you, Ann, for your great post. What am I grateful for this year? Well, one of the major things is knowing you! Happy 2012 from your fellow Poisoned Pen-ner.
Posted by: Priscilla | January 02, 2012 at 02:12 PM