Lights, a story of joy for the holiday season

Tis the week before Christmas and in the corner of the house, is a Christmas tree happily living in a box. Christmas, the most joyous time of the year! Full of lights that twinkle on trees, the comforting smells of sweet treats and smoking meat, pleasant songs from our childhood swimming in our heads. Family, presents, fun and friends.... the most joyous time of the year.

Hmm, for who?

Sometimes "most joyous" equals "most stressful." My lack of time management, inability to see reality and yet understand the reality of my inability to achieve "most joyous" is all quite stressful. Looking around my world I see stacks of presents that need bows and tags, a list of Christmas cookies with good intentions of baking, and life everywhere else, all around, happening.

This year I have decided to embrace the most joyous, to push past finding excellence and accept what life has to offer. I want to find my joy and keep it.

I like the lights— lights on the tree, the windows, around doorways, heck I'd string lights from the ceiling just to see them twinkle.

This Christmas we have a new addition to our home. Frank, a kitten. Frank can leap five feet from the ground. So a Christmas tree inside my house covered with lights, bulbs and tinsel may NOT be an option.

Still I try. I clear a space, set up the tree fluffing every branch, arrange 1,200 lights, working my way down every branch. I break out the tinsel and some bulbs and voila! Beautiful! During the process Frank and Marina, my adult pitbull, just watch doing their own thing… together.

As I sit relishing in my accomplishment, sipping some eggnog and really taking in my masterpiece of twinkle, I spot Frank, like a ninja, under the tree. “Owww - ahh - lights - tree,” these must be the things going through the kitten’s head, because he sure doesn’t hear me yelling, "Frank, Don't even think about it!" Now Marina did. She came right to attention and proceeded to let Frank know how serious I am.

Here's the thing with family, (whether two or four legged), they know how to push your buttons. Marina barks at Frank; Frank jumps up the middle of the tree; Marina barks and looks at me, I yell "Frank!" Marina dodges at the tree oh so carefully so not to touch it. Frank attempts a jump from the tree to the dog, but gets caught up in the lights and takes the tree with him onto the dog. Truth— cats don't always land on their feet.

“Find the most joyous, find my most joyous,” I keep repeating to myself. What is really important to finding my joy right now?

In the end the tree is back in the box, the tinsel and bulbs put up for another year. I figured out how to hang lights from the ceiling so my living room has 1200 twinkling lights hanging 6 feet off the floor so I can add laughter to the most joyous time of the year. I sit with my eggnog listening to Christmas songs, watching Frank again and again leap from the ground, try as he may, to catch the lights. Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.

Moral of this story... Don't let life squash your JOY!

Eddy County Community Cares is a local non-profit with the purpose to foster mental health, suicide prevention and awareness, and provide support for those who have been impacted by suicide. We understand the holidays can be a difficult time of the year for many people. If you are struggling this holiday season, please don’t hesitate to reach out or call the Suicide Prevention Hotline. Talk to someone who can help: (800) 273-8255 or text 741741.