It’s very November outside my window I see.
It started, a mere two weeks ago, with the gold crowns of trees billowing against a blue sky, their leaves tumbling in the wind, dancing to the ground, layering it in a blanket of gold.
Now they’ve rusted, their gold fading to brown, the branches above them bare, except for the oaks. The oaks are the last ones. They hold on.
This week a few flakes of snow fell as a preview of days to come. The seasons, I’ve noticed, send their emissaries in advance of their official dates of arrival.
I appreciate the kindness of that early warning. It saves us from the shock of going to sleep one green summer night, then waking the next day to see the world aflame with leaping oranges, scarlets, and gold. Or of trading autumn’s splendor overnight for trees that stand naked in two feet of snow.
It’s the same thing with the emergence of Christmas music and decor that’s steadily creeping along the streets and into the stores. They’re signs: The holidays are coming. Prepare.
No other time of year holds such intense drama, such contrasts of emotion as this. Such expectations! So many memories, and hopes and demands! We greet it with joyful anticipation, with dread, or with a feigned and determined indifference.
And then, beyond the lights and sounds, there’s the mystery of it, the tangle of stories and traditions that weave all through it, a kind of mass-seeking for its meaning, for the transcendence the stories imply, for the experience of somehow touching the divine.
We greet it, joyfully or with disdain. But we can’t ignore it; we can’t pretend that it isn’t here.
Personally, I’m going with a strategy of complete non-resistance. The year’s going to sing its grand finale, no matter what. I’ll joyously sing along with all the parts that call me and let others join in whatever parts may call to their hearts.
I tend to have a preference for the parts that sing of peace and love, and of silliness and fun. I’m all in for wishing the world joy, in any and all of its flavors.
The official start of the holiday season here in the United States begins with Thanksgiving Day on the last Thursday of November. For others, the start has different markers or quietly slides in unannounced. But it’s coming. It’s inevitable. Its energy envelopes us all.
I suggest that a good thing to take with us as we enter the days ahead is pockets full of extra kindness. It’s welcomed everywhere and often much in need. The contrasts of the season can, as you may have noticed, generate some stress. So save a big handful of kindness for yourself, too. Take time now and then to give yourself a hug and let yourself take comfort and peace in its warmth.
Last week’s snowflakes told the story. It’s coming. You can almost hear its bells chiming in the morning air.
It’s a gift, you know. Welcome it with an open heart and open arms.
You deserve it.
Warmly,
Susan