I was almost completely absent from writing and the internet for nearly the entire month of December.. Not out of indifference.. But because this month was intense in ways that could not easily be translated into words..
Christmas brought with it a great deal of work, the kind of work I love and that exhausts me in a beautiful way.. Countless notebooks and journals passed through my hands.. Calligraphed cards also had their moment of honor.. Days rushed by, hours were never enough, and twenty four hours proved to be far too few..
As I grow older, I realize more clearly that rest is not a luxury.. It is a necessity..
Between caring for my aging parents, working, and the many things I am involved in overall, rest needs to be placed high on my list of priorities, even when daily life does not always allow it..
So, during the week of leave that just passed, although I had planned to work creatively and move forward with things that had been left behind, I chose instead to do the opposite..
To do nothing..
To go out with my brother..
To spend time with my friends and my nieces..
To make a Christmas advent calendar puzzle ..
To take a small getaway with a friend..
And of course.. to eat.. to truly savor all the treats that we Greeks lovingly prepare during the holidays..
The days found me in the kitchen, cooking..
In my favorite armchair, reading books..
Knitting while watching beloved Christmas films..
Choosing and wrapping gifts..
Lighting every candle I own and creating atmosphere..
Welcoming friends..
And, in general.. enjoying every single moment..
Work never really stops, we know that well.. But days of rest and lightness visit us rarely.. Or rather.. Only when we allow them to..
I close this year with gratitude, for what happened, for what didn’t, and for everything I consciously chose to set aside..
With a quiet promise to remember, in the year ahead, that life is not only what we manage to accomplish, but also what we allow ourselves to truly live..
Happy New Year..
With health, warmth, and moments worth holding onto a little longer..
See you Next Year,
Tatiana,
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