On those days when I manage to pop out of bed bright and early in the morning, I cherish the quiet moments with my coffee before anyone else is awake. It’s a precious window of time to catch up on little tasks and start the day feeling organized and proudly productive. So while that time spent reading or working is generally relaxing and uplifting, it’s made utterly magical each December by the addition of lights twinkling softly on the Christmas tree.
In those quiet moments spent basking in the twinkling lights of the tree – I believe – lies some of the most underappreciated magic of Christmas.
December is busy. The suppers and secret santa exchanges and parties are fun yes, but the noise of people and crinkly wrapping paper and the stress of “to do” lists and potlucks and tight pants from cheese balls and stuffing and lefse rolled up with butter and brown sugar can all be rather distracting, and exhausting.
Coming back to those quiet moments with the tree to drink in the joy of the season without distractions gives me time to appreciate the suppers and secret santa exchanges and parties and the noise of people and crinkly wrapping paper and the joy of “to do” lists and potlucks and the good food I’m privileged enough to eat that makes my pants tight from cheese balls and stuffing and lefse rolled up with butter and brown sugar.
Being an introvert doesn’t mean I dislike gatherings with lots of people, it just means I need some time in front of the tree – just me and a cup of hot coffee – to refuel in the quiet. To watch those lights twinkling softly allows me to fully find joy in the chaos. And that’s magic.
