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Tuesday, December 8, 2020

Finding your Super Power in my Christmas living room



                     

Hello dear friends.

How are you all holding up as this strange, turbulent year of Covid winds down? 

Thank you for stopping by my living room today. I'm so happy with how I feel when I walk into our little cramped entrance. This year I decided to take my cue from real life and with everything feeling so different, I went off my typical grid and did whatever felt right at the moment. Like a lot of you, I have to find something to inspire me visually, and I fell in love with the words on this candle I found at a Home Goods store, and that's where I got my blue and green color theme. 

There's been a lot happening in my personal life lately, and I'll share more later. But I do feel acutely aware of all the losses--little and big--that we've all been experiencing as a collective people. And I want to acknowledge those of you who are struggling with illness or worried about a family member that's sick, I know personally how that feels. 

Even though my home doesn't reflect it, it's been a very stressful period. 

Please know you're not alone. That's so important to say right now. Especially during this time of the year when it's so easy to look around at all these beautiful homes in blogland, where everyone can seem so 'happy' and 'merry.' And the worst thing that you can do, is compare yourself and feel bad. 

Please don't do that.

Here's the lens that I'm choosing to view life through right now:

Yes.

It's been a year of heartache for too many people and it hurts my heart thinking about all the loss happening in the world. And yet --when I walk outside at night I can't help but be stunned at all the Christmas lights on my street and in my neighborhood this year. Why do all the lights suddenly look so much more brilliant this year? Are you stopping to stare too? 

It's almost as if those of us who don't have to divert their energies to the urgent worries of un-paid bills and hunger and sickness-- are coming out in droves to say, "it's going to be Ok friends, we're almost through this." 

I truly see the flood of Christmas lights as a beautiful metaphor for humanity. And no, this doesn't diminish the problems we face as a country filled with so much division and anger.

But our super power is that we get to choose where we place our focus, friends. 

And at this moment let's choose to look around and be amazed by all the human energy being expended in creating a warm Christmas inside our homes and lugging out tangled strands of Christmas lights and standing on ladders and sweating in the cold air as you hook up the final lights. Not even realizing that this is your little contribution to spreading light out into our weary world.

I pray you hear my twinkling Christmas lights speaking directly to you my friends. Because they are saying, 

I see you. And you are a luminous light, even if you don't feel that way right now. Please share my light if you need it.

Because we're all in this together. 


                        

                  














               







                    






















Sending love and light,
Leslie




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13 comments:

Linda @ Itsy Bits And Pieces said...

Such a beautiful post, Leslie! Your home is so lovely and cozy. Praying for you and your family! xo

mdickson said...

Oh how I wish I could sit and chat with you in your beautifully decorated living room. Some day...

La Contessa said...

HELLO!
I have that same leopard print on a foot stool and a couple of pillows too!
The foot stool is in the boys bathroom!!!!DOn't ask me why just landed there!
How many years have you been using that JOLLY BOX?I can remember from years past!
Looks like your READY!
BEAUTIFUL DECOR and I like your color theme!
WE are on LOCKDOWN again are YOU?Until JAN. 4th..............
BE WELL......and keep busy!
HUGS TO YOU,
XOXO

Melanie said...

Your living room is so cozy, serene, and beautiful. How I would love to visit with you there and have a heart-to-heart chat.

"Our super power is that we get to choose where we place our focus." Brilliant.

xoxo

Karen said...

Leslie,
I have been heartened by the Christmas lights and enthusiasm for the season. It is a magical time of year and many hearts can be healed.
Your tree and the rooms you shared look so fun and festive. I hope you enjoy Christmas this year.
xo,
Karen

Calypso In The Country said...

So beautiful, Leslie! Thank you for sharing your light. Be well, my friend.
xo
Shelley

hollybholly said...

thank you for sharing your home and loving thoughts. My super power is to spread the joy that is always there but sometimes hidden. I send you love and light a candle for the world.
oo&xx-holly

Blondie's Journal said...

An upbeat and thought provoking post, Leslie, with the addition of uplifting and beautiful photos of your home decked out just perfectly~ it doesn't get any better than this! I love all the touches, from the banister wrapped in greenery to the ribbon on the books---sometimes it's those little things. And that's what I'm doing this year. Our treasures can sometimes get lost in the shuffle of holiday decor, so I've come to realize that I'll have and appreciate just a bit of what I love and I can do something different next year if I want!🙏

Sending a big hug and hope that whatever isn't right in your life finds a resolution-hopefully positive, maybe bittersweet. I'm here, and I love ya for always being here for me. I owe you an email. 😘

Jane x

Loree said...

Your home is looking very lovely. I've never been able to stock to a theme or a colour scheme and sometimes I feel like our decorations are not the map stylish but when I take them out of their boxes it's like remembering old friends. So I've never had the heart to replace them.

Robin in Umbria said...

Beautiful words Leslie. Your home is beautiful and calming as well. Love from Umbria, Robin

Unknown said...

Hi Leslie, I have noticed in the last day or two, that the out of focus elements in my life are claiming more attention, and they are blessings. Like the eye being drawn to your stair lights in the background of the first picture; or the little bells and ribbons on top of the picture of the dog. I find the small things like this make me pause, and be grateful. I walk Addie in the dark before dinner these nights because I feel that definition of Holy most clearly at this time, and while I am not religious, I am like most of us, wanting wanting wanting peace of mind, and relief from the worries we may be experiencing. And I think these big unknowns for next year weigh in. It can become too much. So the out of focus helps in a way to put things in perspective (oddly perhaps). I love your blog. I always find the out of focus. xx Nancy (Stonecrop girl)

Carla from The River said...

Beautiful words and photos Leslie. Thank you for sharing your light!
In our neighborhood we are seeing more outdoor Christmas light displays. You are right they make me/us smile.
Love you,
Carla

mollie's mom said...

Beautiful thoughts - thank you. And, yes, I'm looking for the joyous moments this season - for all of us. Lights at night, children who are excited for the holidays, a new favorite cider, time to wrap gifts slowly... Looking for the little things.

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