Sundays are usually reserved for paying subscribers, but with it being Christmas, this one is for everybody.
Christmas Eve is the most peaceful night of the year, every year, for as long as I’ve been alive. This Christmas Eve was exceptionally peaceful as it was also my 900th day of living alcohol-free.
That magical night sets up one of the most excellent days of the year, where both presence and presents are at an all-time high.
Christmas is a Wonderful Time of the Year
Christmas is my wife and I’s favorite holiday; there’s something special about being connected and warm, surrounded by the presence and presents of loved ones. It’s a unique vibe, and our appreciation of that has not changed this year, even after the circus show life has put on in 2022.
I know what’s going on in the world may warrant your attention, and to a degree, you should be tracking the politics, economy, markets, and social pressure points. Still, I recommend you let it go this Christmas, spend the day away from the static, and focus on the season's signal and life itself.
It’s in your relationships that you will find your purpose and calling.
You will find your motivation and fuel for sustained effort in your relationships.
And yes, it’s in your relationships, even your relationship with yourself, that you will find the peace you’ve sought.
I don’t attend Church, but I am a very spiritual man, and the need for spiritual integration is one we cannot ignore - especially during this holiday season. I don’t mean that in the sense of this being “Jesus’ birthday” (it isn’t) but rather in the sense that, in the past, winters killed people, and so we had to huddle together to survive; that instinct remains.
Winter is a time for slowing down, getting time alone with your inner self, and spending time around others.
You must reconnect with the world in a manner that goes beyond electronic engagement and surface-level discourse. This Christmas, give yourself the gift of dropping the walls and letting people inside. Let the world see the real you for a few moments; let your children connect with the man you are and not the act you put on to keep them from knowing that adults have issues they need to work on.
Take time to connect with your love, letting them know what they mean to you and appreciating that you have had another year together.
It may not fit the “Christmas Spirit” but there will be a day when my wife or I will no longer be walking this world, and one of us will have to have a Christmas alone; while being a morbid as fuck thought - it’s also the most incredible reminder to appreciate the time that we have, now.
I appreciate my wife, children, friends, and family; I also appreciate you, my reader, for taking the time to read or listen to my words, finding them worth your limited asset, and hours of your life.
I do not take a single subscriber for granted, so thank you, and I wish you the very best this Christmas and each day forward as we head together into 2023. I don’t know what next year will hold, but I know I’ll be here, writing about my journey and connecting with you.
As we end 2022, give yourself some grace regarding your missed goals.
Whatever mark you failed to hit, let’s circle around and find out how we can make it happen in 2023. Getting different results requires you to take different actions, so drop a comment if you need advice on breaking the cycle you’re stuck in, or head to the chat and start engaging there for accountability on your journey.
- Zachary Small
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Merry Christmas, Zac! Yes, one day we are all going to be alone. I actually pray that she passes before me. I'm better suited to pick up the pieces and keep the family intact.
Thank YOU for making it possible....