How are YOU doing this Christmas? Not enough people ask that question during the holidays. Holiday time can be stressful and for many the holidays are not always a happy time. Last year I cooked a Thanksgiving meal, decorated two Christmas trees and adorned the outside of my home. This year I had to deal with Hurricane Ida, an unexpected breakup and barely decorated the front of my home. Know, that every holiday will be different and its alright. I said to myself … Kim, you can focus on the bad or salvage this 2021 holiday season. I chose the latter and it’s shaping up to be a different but great Christmas. Also, compare your situation to things going on around you. People have lost their homes, loss family members and friends, are experiencing health issues. My “problems” pale in comparison to what others are going through. An end to a relationship? It wasn’t meant. I know God has someone for me. I have trust and faith in him.
Music always soothes and heals the soul. So I felt that hearing some Christmas music would help brighten my Christmas spirit. I patronize (and you should to) my local Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra. I was able to catch their last performance of the season … A Classical Christmas at The Orpheum Theater. I’ve always enjoyed listening to classical music. The performance included music from legendary greats such as Johann Sebastian Bach, Felix Medelssohn, Hector Berlioz, Georges Bizet, Franz Schubert, Ralph Vaughan Williams and George Frederic Handel. My favorite pieces were Christmas Oratorio (Bach), Shepherd’s Farewell (Berlioz), Ave Maria (Schubert) and excerpts from Messiah (Handel). I’ve attached some of those pieces for you below. The concert was so relaxing. It felt so good to just sit there and take in these compositions. They’re so beautiful! They’re works of art. These compositions were appreciated then and are appreciated now. My mom and I had a really great time at the concert. Prior to it, we took in the amazing Christmas decorations at The Roosevelt Hotel (A Waldorf Astoria Hotel) across the street. It was a beautiful evening.
Depending on your personal “catastrophe” of the day, month, year or season. Do everything in your power to change things around. I’ve started praying the rosary every day. I pray to God. I fill my day with projects. I plan events to attend. It gives me something to look forward to doing. Keep yourself up. Be open to others. Let God lead your steps.
