Our wood stove is furiously burning, our tree is up, the green, yellow, blue and red lights twinkling, while the wind is certain as it rolls off Lake Michigan and up over the bluff and to our home. Even though there is no snow blanketing the ground, the holiday season is here!
In the hustle and bustle of making gifts for friends, finding a way to appreciate the kids teachers, and preparing food lists for festive meals, I am mostly taken by the little moments. This morning I had a meeting at The Redheads at 8:30 am. As I rolled over sleepy eyed, I saw that it was 8:05am and I was going to be late! Wyn was in the living room full on playing with his legos as he is the first one always up an about in our house, while I heard nothing from Olive or Aaron as they were still nestled in bed. I closed my eyes after realizing I had 10 minutes to get sorted to make my meeting, I took a few deep breaths. I said a few affirmations about how I wanted to feel for the day and gently dragged myself out of bed. It was a full day of meetings with bank and post office errands and all sorts of visitors in the Cafe…as Mondays typically go.
But what I was most mindful of was how sweet a day can go with the intentions set right. Sure, I had a few moments when Annette and I were going through Quickbooks trying to figure out what needs to be paid and when that panic started rolling through my thoughts…”When is this check coming in? How will we sort this situation? Why aren’t these balances matching and what are we missing?” And yes, when Aaron and the kids stopped in to say hello and I had 17 million things to accomplish, I began to become short because I really didn’t feel I had the time or attention to spare. And of course, waiting in line at the bank for what seemed to be well over 10 minutes in our lil Lake Leelanau credit union got me thinking I may need to come back later. But when it was all said and done, I brought myself back to what really matters. The moment.
Like the moment when Matt and Katie greeted me as I walked in the door at work. Or the moment when Annette’s smiling face said “It’s all good” when I was a bit late for our meeting. Or the hug Jessica and I shared after two hours of spinning around answering questions, making gift boxes, and finishing marketing meetings. Or the sweet way Olive asked me for a small glass of OJ, or Wyn’s silly smile begging for a hot chocolate. Or the way my Dad walked in the doors to give me an encouraging look, Christen popping over to use the loo with paint on her face from the remodel of her new yoga studio next door. (Plumbing is off til tomorrow:) Or how Cathy, my Aunt, stops in to say hello and let us know that she is home for the holidays looking healthy and happy. Or the way my Mom swings in, sometimes several times a day to check in about my kids, or ask how I am doing. Or the many customers that are bummed to not get Cafe food because it’s Monday and we are closed, but promise they will come back another day. Or helping someone put together a last minute gift box for Christmas. Or the moment I get home, already dark, and Aaron is cooking beet soup (yes! beet soup!) and cleaning up the kitchen. These are what this season is about for me. As it is the shortest day of the year, embracing the light and the dark and how the moment is ever changing, I grab ahold and practice appreciating the moment, living in the moment, and remembering the moment.
All my sister’s and their families are coming home, Wyn’s birthday bash is the day after Christmas and I am looking forward to being with my family and friends in celebration of this beautiful time to be grateful and rejoice!
May your hearts be full of love and light, may your homes be full of family and friends, may your bellies be full of good wholesome foods, and may you continue to BE in the moment.
Always,
Sarah Felicity
