Happy Christmas Eve Eve!
The presents are all wrapped, Christmas Dinner dessert is made (Nigella flourless chocolate brownies), my Yankee Candle christmas cookie candle is burning and the fairy lights are twinkling on the tree. All is quiet and still, snow still lingering on the ground outside.
I'm so excited about Christmas this year. For the first time in years I feel at peace with myself and I feel truly contented with my life. This year has been wonderful in so many ways and I'm just so happy. I can't wait to spend time with the people I love the most.
Christmas should be a happy time for all but, for many people, it isn't. For those on their own, for those who have lost someone, for those who are struggling financially, mentally or emotionally, Christmas can be harder than any other time of year. Maybe I'm more aware of it because I volunteer for the Samaritans but it breaks my heart that not everyone can be as happy as they should be at this truly magical time of year.
There are small acts of kindness that can make people feel so cared for. If we can't show some love at Christmas, then when can we? If you have an elderly person near you, ask them if they need anything, particularly with the bitterly cold temperatures we've been having. If there's someone you know who's going to be alone on Christmas Day, and you think they might be feeling down, maybe take them a mince pie or give them a quick call. Noone should have to be alone or sad at Christmas.
Sorry if this post is a bit of a downer, I'm just acutely aware of how damn lucky most of us are, and, at Christmas, it's nice to be nice, isn't it?
