Healthtrek Day 43

Good Morning! I'm back. I took a little break for several reasons. First and foremost the holiday season is in full swing and I am not having enough hours in the day to get everything done that I need to do. Second reason is that I received some good advice from a friend. I was stressing about not losing weight consistently and fast enough to the point that I was making myself miserable. She told me to take a break from the stress and just let it go for awhile. I took her advice and lo and behold, I actually lost some weight over the Thanksgiving holiday. I think I can become so obsessed with eating properly that I think of nothing but food and consequently eat too much.

Enough of that. I am back and feeling stronger and full of Holiday cheer. I love this time of year. Not because of the exchanging of gifts and I hate the commercialism of Christmas, but for the spirit of Love that is so prevalent this time of year. How we all pause and count our blessings and help those who are less fortunate. Random acts of kindness prevail this time of year and normal sales persons who hardly notice you exist as they scan your purchases, light up with smile when you wish them a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Yes I am one of those politically incorrect people who actually dare to say Merry Christmas! I am proud to live in a country where all religions are respected and recognized and reserve the right to savor Christmas and all it stands for.
My father passed away in 1998 on Christmas Eve. He was a musician who brought his talent to so many people and shared his gift for no profit at Christmas each year. He visited all the nursing homes in the air and brought Christmas cheer to all the shut ins. I used to go with him and loved the sing along Christmas Carols. I wrote a poem at Christmas that year. I knew his time was getting shorter and had no interest in celebrating Christmas. My kids were all grown up and I was working, helping Dad and thought it was silly to put up all that Christmas junk when I was feeling so low. My husband had other ideas. He and my Dad showed me that year that Christmas comes no matter what. You can not put out the flame of the human spirit and I am sure my Dad is busy right now accompanying the Heavenly Choir and giving them his expert advice as to how to project their voices!
I have written a poem at Christmas every year since then and would like to spend the next few days of the Blog sharing these poems with you. For those of you that have already seen them in Christmas Pasts, please bear with me.
Merry Christmas everyone and Rock on around your Christmas Tree!

1998
Oh Christmas Tree!
Twas the week before Christmas
And all through our home
Not a sound could be heard
I felt so alone
My family had grown up
And all moved away
There'd be no Children's laughter
To cheer Christmas Day
I was feeling so sad
So sorry for ME
I wondered "Why bother
to put up a tree?"
My husband was whistling
As he hung out the lights
That would brighten our home
Through the long Yule-tide nights
I sighed and opened the old Christmas Chest
As I decided for his sake, I must do my best
I picked up an ornament, turned it around
And saw a small Care bear, all chubby and brown
A small clothes-pin angel with lace ribbon wings
Made my heart mellow so I started to sing
Reverently now, I hung up the treasures
Each trinket resounding with Past Christmas pleasures
And soon I could see all my Children around
The room filled with laughter ad new memories were found
There was Judy and Cathy and Mickey and Rob
Nicole, Katie, Lexie were doing their job
Arjay and Tyson, Devin and Paul
were shouting with laughter as they hung the last ball
When the tree was completed, I sang with delight
"MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT"
Judy Patt Hall
December 16, 1998


Plan for today:
I am planning to keep busy getting all my Christmas projects done and start journaling and exercising religiously after the holidays!