It is that time of year when Christmas holiday cards and letters arrive. I enjoy receiving the photos and the letters updating me on the past year’s experiences and milestones of my family and friends.

Per Hallmark, the greeting card company, approximately 1.6 billion cards will be mailed or given by Americans this holiday season. The average household receives twenty holiday cards during the Christmas holiday season. It is difficult to imagine that volume of holiday wishes, tidings of joy, and positivity, especially in today’s world. But today’s world really is not any different than the worlds gone by.

This year card-giving etiquette is expanding to online cards and greetings. I am not certain how I feel about electronic wishes, but here is my Christmas holiday letter to family, friends, and followers.

A Christmas Letter, gratitude

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Gratitude is the foundation for overall well-being in mind, body, and spirit. I want to share with you my gratitude for this past year.

On February 14th, my husband and I celebrated 30 years of marriage. Marriage is not easy even for soulmates. In our case we were two broken pieces made whole by the other. Cracks, no matter how well pieces are cemented they are still fragile. I am grateful for 30 years of love and devotion which included the gifts of two beautiful sons. I am grateful for a husband who takes exceptional care of our family.

In March, our first son turned twenty-seven years old. I am grateful for my oldest son’s compassion and how he sees the world through his art as a photographer. He has followed his passion as product photographer, photo editor and e-commerce specialist for a national eyewear company. His personal photography has begun to find its place in galleries and purchased by private clients. His work as an artist has shown me a new perspective of the world.

In April, our youngest son celebrated 25 years of age. His intelligence and inquisitive mind have kept me apprised of current world events, special causes, Formula-1 racing, and in his work as a commercial specialty insurance underwriter for a national insurance carrier. He is continuing his master’s education and licensing. I am grateful for his dedication to his nonprofit passions to make this a better world and to his career.

I am grateful for my sister, my brother, and their extended family for helping with the care of my 85-year-old mother. They have taken upon the bulk of her care because I am unable to due physical distance and my own health challenges.

My two editors, senior dogs, Penny, and Barkley passed away in June and November. I am grateful for their unconditional love over the past 11 years. They taught me so many lessons of love, joy, and the pleasure of play.

In honoring their loss, I have created Penny’s Pet Bereavement Services as a certified bereavement specialist in the area of pet loss. Who knew such a thing existed, but I am grateful for those in my pet rescue and pet services pack that guided me to serving others who will or have lost a pet. It has given me a new purpose with clients locally, nationally and in Europe. Our love for pets is unique and so is grieving unique. You can find Penny’s Pet Bereavement Services on Facebook.

I am grateful to my two editors and pups, Carmela, and Johnny, as they are my source of daily joy (and sometimes terrorism). They are my constant companions and walking friends. We live in a wonderful and supportive community here by Lake Michigan with its beautiful beaches and parks. We enjoy exploring our environment.

In October, we welcomed the news of a wedding proposal! Our youngest son and his partner are planning a wedding in October 2024. We are so grateful that our son has found his soulmate. We love the person whom he is marrying. I am grateful that our family is expanding. I promised them that I would be the best mother-in-law ever!

November found me in the operating room for abdominal pain and exploratory reasons. Unfortunately, the news is not a simple cure. I am currently seeking second opinions with my oncology teams. I retired at the end of March because my resistant to leukemia treatment made it difficult to managing the stress of full-time work even remotely. Yet, I am grateful for the resistance to leukemia treatment for had I not been I may not have found the pancreatic pre-cancerous cells invading my bile ducts before it was too late. The course of treatment is still up in the air, but I am so grateful for the intelligence, diligence, and care of my healthcare teams. I am also grateful for good healthcare insurance.

Why am I being so transparent with my health and the gratitude I am feeling for my family and my community?

I want everyone to know there is purpose in all our situations to help others if only we remember one thing. We all have one thing in common whether we are sick or healthy in mind, body, and spirit. We only have today. Live it!

You are more important to me than an annual holiday letter written all about me and my family. The only holiday gift I am asking is that we stay in touch with each other more often throughout the year. Our annual cards and letters next year will only include the gratitude we have for our relationship and the memories we have created together even if it simply by telephone, online, or Zoom.

In closing,

Why is the Christmas holiday season celebrated at the end of the year?

In my opinion, it is because it gives us the time to look back on our year in gratitude and gives us hope for tomorrow and into the new year. Gratitude builds our resiliency to face whatever dire situation befalls us and fosters a sense of well-being especially if we shift our focus to just today. As our world changes be open to the changes in your life and meet them head on with gratitude and purpose.

I am grateful for all of you who read and follow The Blogging Owl. This blog also gives me purpose and I hope you find value in reading it.

Let us all find harmony and balance in mind, body, and spirit to find the potential within us for today.

Peace,

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