I don’t know what it is about Christmas. I put my game face on. I tell myself its “just like the last 10 years you’ve celebrated Christmas away from your family” and yet, I feel the ache of another Christmas away from the people who taught me the truth about Christmas. It’s a slippery slope from there to feeling Scrooge-ish. My goal is to feel the ache and let it be a reminder to celebrate, and when you celebrate you share. So, I’m sharing with you some things that have inspired me to banish the Scrooge and live with perspective this month.
Burundi is a place where focusing on the truth of Christmas is just about the only path to take. A Savior, our family, and some good kitchen bonding time. There are no shopping malls, tinsel coated windows, or panic attacks about our gift list. Truth is, it is a whole lot less stressful than attending the 7 Christmas celebrations we usually do whenever we are in the good ol’ USA. But despite the ease, I still need some balm for my family-achey heart today.
Here’s my balm of the inter web variety. Barely any of it is Christmasy, but all of it inspires me and keeps me connected at my very CORE. I hope it does the same for you. I’d love to hear what keeps you connected and feeling inspired through the holiday season. My sleeping babe is also rather balmy, which is why he’s joining us at the top of this post today.
This Christmas playlist by Sarah Kieffer of the Vanilla Bean Blog (pssst… and she’s currently hosting a giveaway so I’d hop on over to her site too if I were you).
This Ted Talk by Boyd Varty about Nelson Mandel and human connections with life is truthful and inspiring and touches my proudly South African heart.
Because you can never stop at just one Ted Talk, here’s an oldie but a goodie. David Griffin’s talk on how photography connects us.
These notes of wisdom by Rachel W. Cole have been forwarded to me all holiday season long by my inspiring friend Amy.
I also think you’ll like this animated short of Brené Brown’s amazing words about connection and empathy put into the animated forms of a deer and bear. And yeah, it’s as awesome as it sounds ; ).
Tell On. Feliz navidad.
