When they’re over, will you be keeping the holidays in your heart?

Today is the first day of Kwanzaa, and it’s Boxing Day (UK and Canada).

Happy Kwanzaa to those who are celebrating.

So, are you basking in the afterglow of yesterday?

Still feeling the charm of Christmas all around you?

Ahh.

Or are you putting a big black check mark on your To-Do list now that it’s over?

Ahh.

What does your “ahh” represent?

For me, my “ahh” represents fulfillment, but also a little sadness.

I look around my living room.

The tree lights are on.

I have a cup of coffee in hand.

When I was a kid, I could never understand how Christmas could be sad.

Life hadn’t touched me in that way yet, and I wish that for all the young people.

But now, with a few decades of experiences behind me, yes, I’m sad.

But I’m also feeling a lightness because I have such sweet memories and I had such wonderful people in my life.

I was lucky.

There’s a picture book you might be familiar with about a beloved classroom hamster that dies, and the kids decide the best way to think about it is to be happy that funny little hamster was in their lives at all.

(For the life of me, I can’t remember the name of that book. When I google the saying “don’t cry because it’s over; be happy that it happened,” it attributes it to Dr. Seuss. I know Dr. Seuss didn’t write the book I’m thinking of. If you know the title of the hamster book, please let me know in the comments.)

ANYWAY!

All that is to say, I’m happy I have the good memories and good feelings and they’re part of who I am.

I’m happy it happened…every memory.

I wish that for you, too.

So even though the holiday decorations look tired now, and maybe we’re ready to move forward, be like Scrooge and keep Christmas in your heart all year long…and read a good book.

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