Photo Quote de Jour

It's Christmas eve and I'm reminded of Christmases past. In my family, we'd open gifts after a turkey dinner by a candle-lit tree on Christmas eve. We'd have more gifts and another turkey dinner with close friends the next day. It looked idyllic from the outside: an abundance of shiny pretty things, of baking cookies with my mom, of pine needle scents and snow angels. We'd trundle off to church for a twice yearly visit. God was like an old relative you'd visit once in a blue moon out of obligation. Today, have no tree, gifts or turkey, but I do have God smack in the middle of my heart. Before you feel sorry for me, don't. I'm exactly where I want to be. I'm married to a Jewish vegetarian, so no tree or turkey. The truth is, I feel relieved not having to go to a big family dinner this year. The older I get, I have less patience for pretense, phoniness and fake smiles. Maybe I'll celebrate differently next year, but it's perfect for now. And gifts? I feel the abundance of the universe smiling on me. My favorite things are unexpected: a poem written for me, a surprise trip, a smile of gratitude. And today, my favorite gift is one I share with you. I found this sketchbook pictured above and I opened it up in the middle. There, spread over both pages, was a drawing of a poinsettia I'd drawn from life years ago. It was from another life with another husband, and I marveled at how life unfolds in unexpected and yet perfect ways. This year, for the first time ever, I'd forgotten to buy my usual poinsettias, but it turns out I received one anyway.

This year, whatever religion you follow, or traditions you may practice, open your heart and be ready for the magic of the unexpected. There are gifts waiting to be unwrapped from both abundance and loss, joy and even tragedy. Enjoy all of it.

I feel a song coming on. Trust me, you don't want to hear me sing, but this soulful, Zen Buddhist Jew from my home town of Montreal sings what I'm feeling and that is Hallelujah, it's a wonderful life!