That (elusive) Holiday Spirit

I’m not sure the reason but, this year I’ve been having trouble getting into the holiday spirit. Here it is nearly two weeks before Christmas and I barely have any decorations up at all; nary an ornament, nor a twinkle light and I’ve seriously contemplated not putting up the tree at all. That would be a first for me…….ever! I dragged the decorations themselves up from the basement shortly after Thanksgiving and there they’ve sat nagging at me, for at least a week and a half, taking up space in my living room. I’d sit there after a long day, watching the way the light would play off a sparkly area of a wreath or trying to imagine the scent of pine coming off of the pine boughs (even though, they’re fake), but it didn’t stir me a bit.   

Is it the dreary days without sunshine or the terminus of a very different sort of year for me or is it as simple as the fact that the year is flying by so fast? Could it be all of the holiday romance movies I’ve been watching on the Hallmark Channel (I do love those) that make me wish for a magic that perhaps doesn’t even exist or at least not for me, right now? Whatever the reason, simple or complicated, its official, I have the holiday blues; the slumps.

Yesterday, I decided to take a proactive approach and deck these halls! I’m a firm believer in the power of environment on moods; if you live in dark and dreary, you will feel dark and dreary. My apartment is by no means, dark nor dreary, so I’m hoping a little tangible cheer in the way of decor will help me get back my intangible spirit.

Armed with bravado and a whole lot of coffee (with french fries waiting for me upstairs), I headed down to the depths of the building to haul up my heavy 7.5 foot Christmas tree. I’ve been dreading this, because its 6 flights up to my 3rd floor apartment plus the 2 shorter flights leading up from the basement. How was I going to do this alone? I’ve crammed this tree (or at least tried to) back into its original box, so many times over the years that its straining the limits of the heavy duty duct tape tentatively holding it closed and its hard to gain any purchase on it when you’re only 5’4″!

The problem, thankfully, resolved itself. As soon as I opened the storage locker door, the box burst open and the tree fell out at my feet, in pieces……..Genius! Why didn’t I think of that? After the ease of getting the tree up in a couple of trips, sans box, we put it up. Most of the lights on it don’t work this year (sigh), so I’ll have to finish the tree later after I buy some strings, but I feel like I’m off to a good start with the holiday cheer. I’m hoping after a few nights of unwinding (with a book of course), looking at the tree and the trimmings, I’ll be able to pull myself out of it and enjoy all the season has to offer.

Besides the lights, music, festivities and cookies, I hope all of you are enjoying what is truly at the heart of the holiday season; hope, joy, giving to others, love and family.

A little Holiday Magic

Wrapping Presents

Decorating with gift wrap is easy and budget friendly.

Oh Christmas Tree

Happy Holidays!

~Renee