Skip to main content

Tis’ the season

 

#respecttheoldseekoutthenew2022

"Maybe Christmas doesn't come from a store. 
Maybe Christmas perhaps means a little bit more."

I still remember some of the Christmas gatherings we had as children. 
There were quite a few times when we would hop in the car and travel several hours to visit our grandparents, aunts and uncles, as well as our cousins. 
We use to really look forward to opening gifts on Christmas eve and/or on Christmas morning. 
Above all though, when I think back, the best part of the winter holidays was definitely spending time with one another.

The last Christmas we all spent together was in 2015 I believe.

As we've grown older and the family dynamics have changed (passings, relocations, marriages, babies, job commitments, goals and dreams...), Christmas gatherings have become more challenging and unfortunately less frequent. 

This holiday season, I could've remained in Dubai, as I've done on a few prior occasions, or of course I could have travelled to a new destination on my 'wish list', but I decided that ultimately, I just wanted to spend some time with family...and relax!

First, I headed to Canada where I got to spend time with my parents, as well as my youngest brother, sister-in-law and niece. I also had the opportunity to catch up with a close friend, watch lots of Christmas movies, do a few low-intensity gym sessions and 'enjoy' the colder weather with a dusting of snow.

My parents and I.

My brother, sister-in-law and niece opening gifts.

I was hoping for a white Christmas.

Next, I made my way to Germany to visit with my other brother and his family. While I was  there, I was lucky enough to catch 2 of his hockey games, which is something I have missed quite a bit while living abroad the last 10 years.

My brother, sister-in-law, niece and nephew after an epic hockey game.

Landshut, Germany.

Busy bodies.

It wasn't a whole family gathering like we once knew, nor was it a typical holiday for me, as I would usually want to keep myself super busy and do lots of exciting things, but believe it or not, I truly enjoyed the break from my usual routine, the 'down time' to rest, reflect, reset and recharge, and of course all the moments spent with each of my family members.

"Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!"

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Mirror, Mirror

  “I could try to be just like you, but I wanna be like me - the girl in the mirror.” Have you ever looked at a picture of yourself and thought “YIKES!”? Of course you have! We all have! We can all get a little self-critical from time to time, can’t we? I’ll be honest, I don’t often love seeing pictures of myself, especially those really close up, like selfies. Every image seems to amplify my insecurities and highlight “ flaws ” that I wish would disappear. I’m a pretty simple girl—no make-up, no heels, just me as I am, and I find that the world often holds up a different standard of beauty for females, one that's heavily curated and polished. My negative thoughts can weigh heavily at times, and social media ( with all its’ filters ) only magnifies those feelings of self-doubt. Over the last year, I’ve taken a number of selfies or mirror pictures. Some were taken to capture moments during my solo trips, some were taken to track physical changes influenced by diet, training and r...
Post a Comment
Read more

Fly Away

  “Until you spread your wings, you’ll never know how far you can fly.” For as long as I can remember, there has been a relentless pull within me; a desire to fly away, to explore beyond the boundaries of familiarity, and to immerse myself in the cultural richness of our world. It all started over 15 years ago with a pivotal moment: my first international trip to the Dominican Republic for humanitarian purposes. Little did I know then that this remarkable trip ( *along with teaching in a challenging multicultural school ) would set the stage for a life defined by adventure, discovery, and personal growth. Since that transformative experience, my life has been a whirlwind of movement and exploration. I've been blessed with the opportunity to experience living and working abroad, both in the UAE and in Vietnam, and along the way, I've had the privilege to traverse more than 40 countries, each offering its own unique blend of culture, history, landscape and perspective. Looking ...
Post a Comment
Read more

The runner in me

“Mind over miles.” A few years back, I was all in. I was that person signing up for every race that came across my radar—10K’s, half-marathons, marathons—you name it. The thrill of crossing the finish line, the camaraderie at the starting line, the way the crowds cheered you on, it was all so energizing. I didn’t even need music to get through a run, even a whole 42km marathon, which, I know, sounds crazy to most people. But there I was, in my zone, taking it all in and doing something I enjoyed. I collected lots of medals and racked up plenty of podium finishes, but most importantly I had some memorable international races, and met tons of amazing people along the way. I discovered that running was a really accessible sport; all you needed was a pair of shoes and the will to go. I could literally show up to a race, put one foot in front of the other, and—boom—be part of a community of people all working toward the same goal. So, what happened? Why did I stop running? For me, it came d...
Post a Comment
Read more