When I was a kid, after Thanksgiving, I would always beg my parents to set up our Christmas Tree as soon as possible. This meant going out and searching around a cold lot with my dad and older sister to pick out the best looking tree. We’d bring it home, Dad would put it in the stand, then we’d hold the light cords as he carefully spiraled them around the tree.
One year, after stringing the lights, my dad got up on a ladder to put the tree topper on. Only, there were too many branches at the top, so he had to trim some. He grabbed his pruning sheers and started clipping. All of a sudden half the lights on the tree went out. He had mistakenly trimmed the cord to the lights.
Needless to say we heard a few words we didn’t usually hear our dad use, before he left to go get new lights at the store. When he returned however, we had a whole new set of lights with multiple settings for twinkling and blinking. As kids, we were thrilled.
After the lights were on the tree, every year my mom would join us in the living room. We’d unpack all the ornaments and decorate the tree together. Then, as a family we’d admire it before going to eat dinner or see what was on TV.
Later, when everyone else was busy, I would go into the living room by myself. If the tree lights weren’t on, I’d plug them in. Then, I’d shut off all the other lights in the room. All the twinkling lights would cast shadows on the wall. It gave the room a quiet yet magical feel.
Then I’d just sit and look at the tree.
For some reason, it was easy to be quiet in that space. To think. To be still. To breathe.
Looking back, perhaps it was the introvert in me that sought out these solitary moments. Sure I loved all the family togetherness of decorating the tree. It felt so right and good. But so did the time I sat in the glow of the Christmas lights all by myself.
For many of us, Christmas isn’t just a special day—it’s a very busy season. It may be when we spend the most time out of the whole year, with the people we love. And when we spend the least amount of time by ourselves. As an introvert, I find this to be both wonderful and exhausting. And it has drawn me back to taking time to sit all by myself, by our Christmas tree. To take some time to breathe, and to be fully present to all this season is and represents.
Whether you are an introvert or extrovert, chances are you too are in the middle of a very wonderful, very busy holiday season. There is only a week left until Christmas, and I am sure there is still some shopping or wrapping you have to do. Perhaps you barely have any time in your calendar this week. But today, I want to invite you to take even just a few minutes to slow down.
Grab a cup of tea, coffee, or even hot chocolate and go sit by your Christmas tree. Or, at the risk of feeling a little like Tiny Tim, sit in a dark room and light a candle. Give yourself a chance to breathe, to rest, and to be thankful for all this season is bringing you.
Every year, it seems like Christmas is coming earlier and earlier, but it also feels like it is over before we can even blink. The only way we can make sure we don’t miss it, is to take the time to slow down. Take some time, and be present.
Did your family have a Christmas tree decorating tradition?
When was the last time you just sat by your tree and enjoyed the lights?
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