Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas

Dec 24 2023

A few weeks ago, I was brimming with hope and had grand plans for the holiday season. However, fate had other ideas, instead of the festive atmosphere I envisioned, my home became a symphony of coughs and fevers. On the bright side, all COVID tests were negative!

As the weeks unfolded, it became clear that my meticulously crafted holiday plans and ambitious end-of-year work goals were slipping away. I found myself in a forced slowdown, confined to watching TV and reading, a far cry from the productive burst I had anticipated. The anniversary month plans for this newsletter were unexpectedly forced to be placed on hold.

In this period of stillness, I discovered a silver lining — a renewed appreciation for the things that truly matter: the people around me and the togetherness we share. While I'm usually the one in our household taking the longest to recover, especially inconvenient during this time of year, I've come to be reminded of the importance of embracing the present moment.

Despite my initial reservations, this downtime allowed me to reflect on the essence of the holiday season. My husband always reminds me of what truly matters, but each year, I find myself ensnared in the stress of creating the perfect holiday for my kids. By the end of it, all I desire is for Christmas to be over.

As we embark on our holiday celebrations tonight, our agenda is refreshingly simple — relishing each other's company, enjoying movies, and tackling the remaining gift wrapping. I'm entering tomorrow with minimal expectations, but I'm confident it will be a pleasant day, a luxury not everyone will have this holiday season.

While I wouldn't recommend spending the week before Christmas battling flu-like symptoms, I do propose a simple idea for everyone: take a moment this week to do nothing. Whether it's immersing yourself in a book, watching TV, or taking a leisurely walk, allow yourself the luxury of rest without the burden of guilt. This advice is particularly crucial for those, like myself, who often find themselves shouldering the responsibilities others depend on.

I anticipate a swift recovery and eagerly look forward to getting back on track in the first week of the new year. There is a backlog of posts planned for The Etobicoke Voice, stemming from recent City Council meetings and other local gatherings over the past month. However, as this week has demonstrated, life has a way of altering our content plans. Sometimes, the unexpected detours offer insights and moments of clarity that are just as valuable as our meticulously crafted plans.

I want to extend heartfelt wishes to each and every one of you for a joyous holiday season. Your continued support as subscribers and readers means the world to me and I am sincerely grateful for your engagement and presence. Whatever your plans over the next few days, I hope that they are filled with warmth, smiles, and cherished moments. Here's to a wonderful conclusion to this year and the anticipation of new beginnings in the one ahead.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!