Roses in December

the beauty of memories...

Dec 21, 2024

“God gave us memories so that we might have roses in December…”

black frame eyeglasses on book — Photo by Antonio Scalogna on Unsplash

The following is an essay I wrote a year ago. It still seems fitting as we approach the Christmas holidays as this is a time to naturally reflect about our memories while also looking forward to making new ones…I hope you enjoy it and I hope you have a very Merry Christmas!

Many years ago my Dad wrote a poem called “Cleaning the Basement”. It described ordinary items in the corner of a basement and as he looked at them, how memories flooded his mind. Ordinary objects but with them, were attached individual memories.

If you take a moment right now and just look around you, I am guessing you may be reading this essay on your phone or laptop. You are sitting, probably in a comfortable chair and I would also guess that if you took a moment to absorb your surroundings, you would be surprised at all of the memories that are around you…

Sometimes the memories are vivid…sometimes they are faint…but they exist. Within each of us is our own story and our own unique memories attached to that story.

As you recall and remember, take a moment to also be grateful…As my mother would say, no matter what your circumstances, there is much to be grateful for…

In 2022, my siblings and I were given the task of going through our late mother’s possessions. There were many things that she saved and as we sorted through them, we learned even more about the mother that we thought we already knew so well…

She kept report cards, school projects, homemade gifts from each of our childhoods…She saved so many things that brought her joy and that she also knew would someday possibly bring us that same joy.

And then there were the more ordinary objects…like the shirt on a hook that was in my father’s poem. For example, we came across a pair of eyeglasses my Dad wore in the 1940’s…something my mother kept for over 70 years…An ordinary object to some but a treasured memory to her.

So what did I learn from that experience?

Sometimes life has difficult circumstances where you need to face choices that are challenging and it is during those times when those positive memories can give you the courage you need.

It is said that the best things in life are the people you love, the places you go and the memories you make…That’s a valuable lesson and also another example of how the love of my parents continues to influence me…and gives me hope for the days ahead…

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Tranquil Moments…

I asked my niece, Jennifer Malphy, if she could share some of her nature photos with my newsletter audience. Each week I will feature a new photo. Here is this week’s:

This week’s Smile video…

The story of a wealthy businessman who annually gives out hundreds of $100 bills to strangers motivated a group of Phoenix students to start their own Secret Santa club. Steve Hartman has their story in "On the Road."

#believe #smilevideos #spreadkindnessandlove

Interesting thoughts…

From the Facebook page You Are My Life

"Tears of the Strong"

Strong people wear their strength like armor, shielding the world from seeing their cracks. They carry the burdens of others, mend hearts that aren’t theirs, and whisper words of hope even when their own voices tremble.

But when the night comes and the world grows quiet, their strength gives way to silence. It’s in those moments, under the dim glow of the moon, that the weight becomes too much. And they cry—not for weakness, but because their hearts need release.

They cry for the battles they’ve fought in silence.

They cry for the pain they’ve endured without complaint.

They cry because they’ve spent so much time holding others together, they’ve forgotten how to heal themselves.

The strongest people know the value of tears. They know that crying doesn’t diminish their strength—it amplifies it. It’s a reminder that they’re human, that their struggles are real, and that even the strongest need to break sometimes to rebuild.

These quiet tears are sacred. They’re the proof of resilience, the evidence of a soul brave enough to face its shadows. When morning comes, these same strong people will rise again, their hearts a little lighter, their spirits a little stronger, ready to face the world once more.

So if you ever find yourself crying in the solitude of the night, remember this: you’re not breaking. You’re healing. And that, in itself, is strength.

#TearsOfStrength #HealingInSilence #StrengthInVulnerability

What I am reading…

This week I enjoyed reading My Hygge Home by Meik Wiking. As the snow starts flying and the temperatures are beginning to plunge, I found myself snuggled up and reading this book.

Here is the Amazon summary: “Inspired by Danish design and traditions, Meik Wiking’s beautiful book My Hygge Home shows us how to turn our home into a cozy sanctuary and live a bit like the happiest people in the world—the Danes.

Now more than ever before, our homes need to be a place of comfort, a place to feel safe when we shut the door. Our homes are where we can truly be ourselves, unwind, and create special memories with our family and friends.

Hygge (pronounced hoo-ga) is the art of surrounding yourself in comfort and is at the core of Danish culture in creating a happy space. With simple tips based on new research from the Happiness Institute in Copenhagen, this book reveals what makes a happy home: including the difference between space and size, the importance of lighting, and how to foster better connections with our loved ones.

No matter how much space you have or what your budget is, Meik explains how you can use color, light, and space to create your happy place and celebrate coziness the Danish way.”

What I am watching…

This week I watched my favorite Christmas show, A Charlie Brown Christmas. What’s not to love about this adorable show which turns 60 years old next year?

If you get a chance to watch it, I guarantee you will fall in love with it all over again.

Mind/Body connections…

Deep breathing with your diaphragm triggers the calming parasympathetic nervous system and reduces anxiety through a "bottom-up" approach, meaning going from the body to the mind, instead of vice versa. This is also known as "Belly Breathing" and it's an essential technique for managing stress, anxiety, and internal tension. Deep breathing helps turn on the calming part of your nervous system, the parasympathetic nervous system, which triggers a calming relaxation response.