Who knew Christmas would come about so quickly this year? Certainly not me! But seeings as it’s only one more sleep until we all stop and typically have a weeks rest before a new year unfolds, perhaps you too have been wondering how has 2014 been significant?
One could easily assume that “the bootie” was incredibly significant in 2014 thanks to the likes of the Kardashians (again), Nicki Minaj, J Lo and Iggy Azalea. Admittedly this is perhaps a step up from the countless images we had of Miley Cyrus twirking in 2013 but what I’m really asking is, “How has 2014 been significant for you and your family?”
Think of the year that has nearly passed and consider:
- What were your most valuable experiences?
- How were you challenged?
- What inspired you?
As I sit at the beach shivering, watching my eldest three boys learning to surf and catching enormous waves on this windy, stormy day, I am reflecting on just how much has happened over the last 12 months. While the year seems to have flown by, my little Floreani clan have had an undeniably full year.
There have been lots of highs and challenges but living with seven males (two of these have really bad breath and require far more grooming then the other five) often means my life feels like a movie gag reel filled with bloopers, laughter and the occasional potty mouth. Regardless though of whatever is going on in my life these divine males have so much spunk and moxie that they always help me circle back to humour and gratitude.
For example I had hoped to share with you recipes for paleo gingerbread men and paleo fruit mince pies that the boys and I made and while we burnt three rounds of the biscuits and tweaked the recipes so they didn’t continuously stick, my brood and I needed to take a ‘chill pill’ and go to the beach for a few days. So if you would like these recipes I’m happy to share otherwise they probably won’t surface until sometime before next Christmas 🙂
A more successful Christmas tradition that I’ve initiated this year however and hope to brand into the hearts of my children and their children (and it is not my uber serious Christmas tree competition with my neighbour) is for each of us individually, to write down five things that we are grateful for this year and five things that we wish for next year. We are writing these reflections down on brown paper and hanging them on the tree on Christmas Eve turning our beautiful festive tree into a “Gratitude/Wishing Tree.”
You see what I have also noticed about this pre-Christmas period in particular is that their have been ample moments where life has reminded us all not to get caught up in the “Christmas inferno”. With the tragedies that have unravelled in December alone in Pakistan, Sydney and Cairns, I believe life is calling us all to reflect on how blessed we are and to consider ‘what’ and ‘who’ is really of value in our lives? To consider our priorities and are we living congruently with these values?
I have chatted to a lot of people about the year that has been and believe that 2014 has presented it’s fair share of challenges for most of us. Perhaps it’s been smoother then 2013 but none the less, most of us are looking forward to a stiff drink New Year’s Eve and breathing in a successful, light hearted and prosperous 2015.
So as you finish wrapping presents
and connect with loved ones,
I ask you to think back to this time last year:
– Where were you?
– What was your head space like?
- What was stirring your heart or making you chuckle?
- What has unfolded for you this year that has enriched your life?
These points help us consider what we are grateful for and what we wish for in 2015. You may then wish to start your own “Gratitude/Wishing Tree.”
Without a doubt my groom wins hands down for what I am most grateful for this year and if you’ll allow me I would like to thank him for loving me, believing in me and in ‘us’ so profoundly. My children run a close second particularly with off the cuff comments like Arlo’s this morning when Simon asked him, “What shall we leave out for Santa Claus tonight, he might be a bit tired of milk and biscuits?” My six year old who is so enrolled in the fanciful side of Christmas this year, snappily replied, “Drugs?”
Stone faced (no pun intended) and not wanting to display our shock or amusement that clearly Arlo spends far too much time exposed to his big brothers’ movies and social media that both Simon and I, I replied, “Arrr maybe not. Santa is way to clever to use drugs.”
On that note, I would like to wish you all a very amusing and delightful Christmas. I would also like to thank each of you for your support, encouragement and eagerness to learn and strengthen your health.
. . . . .
Love and warm hugs.
Jennifer Barham-Floreani
Bach. Chiropractic, Bach. App Clinical Science
Registered internationally, no longer practicing as a chiropractor in Australia.
