{"id":125,"date":"2023-12-01T19:54:21","date_gmt":"2023-12-01T19:54:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/soulbycourt.com\/?p=125"},"modified":"2023-12-01T20:38:49","modified_gmt":"2023-12-01T20:38:49","slug":"cautious-cheer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/soulbycourt.com\/?p=125","title":{"rendered":"Cautious Cheer?"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"125\" class=\"elementor elementor-125\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-ac069b9 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"ac069b9\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-b66fb81\" data-id=\"b66fb81\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8f893fe elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"8f893fe\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.15.0 - 20-08-2023 *\/\n.elementor-widget-image{text-align:center}.elementor-widget-image a{display:inline-block}.elementor-widget-image a img[src$=\".svg\"]{width:48px}.elementor-widget-image img{vertical-align:middle;display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"800\" height=\"446\" src=\"https:\/\/soulbycourt.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/christmas-3009949_1280-1024x571.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-131\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/soulbycourt.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/christmas-3009949_1280-1024x571.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/soulbycourt.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/christmas-3009949_1280-300x167.jpg 300w, https:\/\/soulbycourt.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/christmas-3009949_1280-768x428.jpg 768w, https:\/\/soulbycourt.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/christmas-3009949_1280-600x335.jpg 600w, https:\/\/soulbycourt.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/christmas-3009949_1280.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-3de09936 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"3de09936\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-1a61b8c8\" data-id=\"1a61b8c8\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-70e94f33 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"70e94f33\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.15.0 - 20-08-2023 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#69727d;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#69727d;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>As I sit here with a gentle fog running in on the first of December, naturally a rise of Christmas reflections is coming on. <\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Although it may have gotten lost over the years, we all know that feeling of Christmas cheer. The gentle twinkle of the lights, crisp winter air, laughter in the distance, surroundings of red, white, and green. The magic of that indescribable spark you sometimes get and sometimes don\u2019t.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>When I was a kid, on my way home from piano lessons around Christmas time, I would make a game out of counting how many houses with Christmas lights I could see throughout the drive. It gave me a glimmer of joy as the number got bigger every week, I gazed in awe at some displays and was encouraged by ones in the distant hills. <\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Children usually have the right idea because they haven\u2019t been ruined by the world yet.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Now as an adult, common conversations around this time of year are discontentment with people who put up their Christmas decorations before Thanksgiving, retail jumping from Halloween to Christmas, how humanity has consumer-ized Christmas\u2026you know, the usual critical musings. <\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Yet an adult feeling I have become accustomed to is the juxtaposition of critical thoughts and genuine joy, the dis-enchantment usually wearing off just in time to enjoy the holiday. That yearning for joy and ability to tap into it is still there. <\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>But this year feels different. The sense of joy, kindness, and gratitude creeping in as a constant rather than a flip of the switch. &nbsp;This year I was delighted to see people putting up their lights the weekend before Thanksgiving, my own excitement to put up our tree and lights settling in. Urges to ice skate, watch Christmas movies, drink hot chocolate, help a stranger, wrap presents, and listen to ambient Christmas music sooner than a few days before Christmas. <\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m sure that having kids had something to do with me going soft, but I\u2019m here for it.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>The deeper knowing that has been dawning on me this year, is that we are just eager to have some damn cheer in our lives. It doesn\u2019t have to be a negative thing that people want to expedite the Christmas feels. It is not a crime that we are ready for the part of the year where we get to connect, reflect, and be jolly. To have a reason to stare at pretty lights, give thoughtfully, and receive graciously. &nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Of course, we don\u2019t always get this reality\u2026we\u2019re lucky if these feelings are actually tradition. Unfortunately, Christmas can also be a reminder of the connections we don\u2019t have, a feeling that joy is illusive, a reminder of bleak odds. Or we get caught up in spending, greed, and perpetuating ugly cycles of humanity.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>I think where we go wrong is the idea that this feeling is reserved for a holiday, when really love, kindness, gratitude, and shimmers of joy are always available to us. This can be the norm, but we have to believe it&#8217;s possible, we have to believe it\u2019s worth it, and we have to do the work to let go of the negativities we are meant to learn from. <\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>I know it\u2019s borderline toxic positivity, but thinking of my favorite Christmas movies, I am cautiously buying into the cheesy messages. That maybe Christmas doesn\u2019t come from a store, the true spirit of Christmas lives in your heart, a true act of kindness always sparks another, and that maybe (channeling Hugh Grant voice), love actually is all around.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Is this what it\u2019s like to be happy? To buy into the cheese?<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>While of course there are miles to go in spreading love without rampant consumerism, it seems like we are on the right track. Or at least we are trying to be\u2026maybe our excitement to prolong Christmas shows our readiness to move towards a different way of life. A willingness to let the magic of love and kindness have more presence in our lives.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Can we hack the magic of Christmas to be more commonplace than just a holiday? Can we believe there is always joy and warmth to be found? If we look for joy, connect on the regular, show gratitude, and believe we can do better, can we create a better reality?<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Well, a girl can dream. <\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Merry Christmas! &nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As I sit here with a gentle fog running in on the first of December, naturally a rise of Christmas reflections is coming on. Although it may have gotten lost over the years, we all know that feeling of Christmas cheer. The gentle twinkle of the lights, crisp winter air, laughter in the distance, surroundings [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/soulbycourt.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/125"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/soulbycourt.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/soulbycourt.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/soulbycourt.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/soulbycourt.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=125"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/soulbycourt.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/125\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":138,"href":"https:\/\/soulbycourt.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/125\/revisions\/138"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/soulbycourt.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=125"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/soulbycourt.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=125"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/soulbycourt.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=125"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}