Hi, friends. Do you feel a bit of magic in the air this time of year? The joy of the holidays is almost palpable. That sense of wonder is magnified by seasonal decorations like Christmas trees set up in stores, string lights adorning houses, etc.
Many of us look back on childhood memories as the best holiday experiences. Those who are celebrating the holidays with their own children right now are creating perhaps even better memories.
A theory I once heard is that things are more special to children because they haven’t experienced them many times. A ten-year-old hasn’t experienced Christmas many times (especially years they actually remember). At age 25, I’ve been through a few. I can only imagine how I’ll feel in 25 more years.
Years and memories run together as we age; time seems to flee. But I recently realized a way I could recapture some of the magic of holidays I felt as a child.
In elementary school, the classrooms and hallways were adorned with seasonal decorations. We made arts and crafts to commemorate the times–turkeys for Thanksgiving, snowmen in December. Red, orange, and brown leaves outlined the bulletin board in fall, and those were replaced by snowflakes in winter. The environment around us shifted with the seasons.
I have neglected to celebrate holidays in this way as an adult. I’ve been using blankets with snowflakes all year. I didn’t visit a pumpkin patch this fall. My room looks the same year round. I hardly indulge in holiday decor.
I should quit being lazy and put more effort into celebrating the seasons. It’s probably my own fault that “it doesn’t feel like Christmas” some years. If figurine Santas smiled at me from tabletop surfaces, or snowflake streamers sagged from my ceiling, or I built gingerbread houses with loved ones, perhaps the holidays would feel more distinctly special.
Time moves fast enough. Let’s make some small efforts to help us appreciate the seasons of life. Stop and smell the roses–or, in this case, the pumpkin spice. That’s self-care.
Time for a dollar store run!
Thanks for reading, and Happy Thanksgiving!
I’m thankful for all of you who support my blog this year. ♥
Retrospective Lily 
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