Rockin’ around the Christmas tree

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Not only was this past Thursday Thanksgiving, it was also my youngest daughters birthday. She turned 9! The last year in single digits! That means, next year, I will have THREE kids in the double digits. I *AM* getting old – don’t try to tell me otherwise.

She worried all week that it was going to snow and we wouldn’t get to celebrate. See, the last 3 years we’ve tried to have a party for her on her birthday, it HAS snowed and nobody showed up. So she was really worried that since it was Thanksgiving AND her birthday, not only would it snow and nobody would show up but she’d be stuck without presents and cake and turkey and all that good stuff! LOL

It turned out well, though, and for that I’m thankful.

And since it’s a long weekend, we decided to put up the Christmas tree yesterday. So it’s up! But it’s not decorated. LOL Well, except for lights and that’s only because it’s one of those fake, pre-lit things. I love real trees but they make me sneeze mercilessly and my allergies just can’t handle it.

Of course, the Christmas music is in full play. I have 9.7 hours of Christmas music loaded in iTunes and it’s streaming through my stereo. It makes the gray days seem a little brighter.

You know, the holiday season is often stressful and painful for a lot of people. I think this year, it’s especially hard for folks all around the US due to the recession. Maybe even more so than usual. The past few years have been depressing for me, though I’ve not really figured out why because I’m not one prone to depression and I don’t get what is termed “seasonal depression” or whatever. But anyway, I’m trying to leave that behind this year and keep things simple.

This year especially with so many out of work and other hard situations we going on, we need to remember to be mindful of others, be courteous, share. We need to have empathy and compassion for our fellow man. For no other reason than the fact that we are ALL one race – the human race. And each of us deserves love and acceptance.

As I mentioned earlier on a friends blog, sometimes just that one smile or friendly wave can turn the world around for someone is who lost and hurting.

This holiday season, I encourage you to be the light in the darkness. You never know what impact it may have on someone else.

In the arena,

I’ll leave you with this today – lyrics to one of my favorite Christmas songs by Casting Crowns -

I heard the bells on Christmas day
Their old familiar carols play
And mild and sweet their songs repeat
Of peace on earth good will to men

And the bells are ringing
Like a choir they’re singing
In my heart I hear them
Peace on earth, good will to men

And in despair I bowed my head
There is no peace on earth I said
For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men

But the bells are ringing
Like a choir singing
Does anybody hear them?
Peace on earth, good will to men

Annie Anderson is a freelance copywriter and graphic designer specializing in the small business and real estate markets. Her tagline “Making your business, my business” means that she’ll take the utmost care when creating words and images for your business – just as if it were her own.