Prioritising presence over present this Christmas.

While it is easy to get lost shopping for Christmas presents consider your presence as the ultimate gift to yourself and your loved ones this year. A hurried day spent agitatedly flapping will never yield happy memories. Regardless of how many presents shimmer under the tree, a good day requires good spirits. I think a mistake that is easily made and thankfully easily avoided is expecting the presents, food and champagne to foster good spirits. But it is your presence that brings the real sense of Christmas magic and joy.

I set myself up to have a good day on Christmas, I wear my favourite pyjamas and pre plan an outfit for the big day that I will be comfortable and confident in. It isn’t about “showing off” but showing up and being a version of myself that I am excited to be. I prepare for an indulgent experience smothered in flavour, scents, sounds and sights that are nutritious for the soul. I play something, a video or music that sets the scene, typically Frank Sinatra, or Lydia Millen. I submerge myself consciously in content I know is going to lift me up. I warm the space I am in, with cosy sparkling lights and candles. From dusk until dawn and well into the night I make a conscious effort to sprinkle in moments of magic. It’s not just your morning routine, it’s your Christmas morning routine. Your not only doing your hair and makeup but possibly with new additions your doing your Christmas hair and makeup. Your not only making dinner, it’s Christmas dinner.

The externally proclaimed significance of the day serves a permission slip to truly indulge in making it special. We give importance to Christmas Day, and in turn we experience a magical cluster of moments adorned with joy and laughter. We emphasise the importance and meaningful contribution each segment has towards the overall day. Of which’s success looks towards one thing more than anything else, our presence. No, not the presents under the tree, nor the smell of aromatic, orange marmalade simmering in the air. But our presence, that Christmas spark. Arguably the Christmas spark comes from the anticipation of gifts, food and cherished family time. But really we anticipate the feelings associated with those things.

Adulthood begins when our to do list becomes longer than our wish list. For many this sees the dreaded expiry date to Christmas joy. With the emergence of our responsibilities, pressure to provide and guilt if we don’t. Christmas crumbles into a swarming storm of panic and disappointment. But my personal belief is there is no expiration date of joy. Personally I look to the workings of Christmas Day and the magic it brings with awe. How wonderfully it demonstrates that with intention we can give space for magic and joy.

Is there a way you can make today 10% more magical? Can you bake, go on a walk, paint, stretch, take a bath? Can you pick out tomorrows outfit so when you awake you can slip into the day with ease. Can you set a schedule? Particularly in these 6 days between Christmas and new years when time blurs and we come to a halt. Can you make a plan per day that you are excited for? Make fudge on Monday, paint on Tuesday, spa day on Wednesday, walk on Thursday etc. Because it is my personal take that you can schedule in joy, and prepare for a good day. Look at how good you are at it, look at how excited you are to awaken Christmas morning, to see your family when you have a gift. Imagine meeting them again in the new year with the gift of good conversation, imagine serving the news that you’re happy for something, anything a new hobby, concert, literally anything.

Christmas provides an exceptional permission slip to romanticise our lives. It pours external significance on our day and waltzes us along the usual 24 hours with its glistening lens. If Christmas Day (truthfully an extracted and curated concept of what it originally was). Can enable you to create magic, then the truth is you can do that any day you choose.

Merry Christmas,

Love,

Amy.