As we celebrate Christmas Eve in the US, I’m bringing you an article from archives, originally published in December 2022 on Medium.
My Christmas Wish
And a message from Mr. Claus
While it’s been years since I’ve written a Christmas list or letter to Santa, I’ve had the pleasure of writing letters for Santa for many years.
You didn’t know Santa used ghostwriters?
When I was tagged in an “X-mas Challenge” for Medium writers, I was inspired to share my take on the challenge and reflected on the tradition of writing letters to Santa.
Letters from Santa
Like most children, my son loved the catalog of toys that arrived in November but was not interested in the newest, latest, greatest… He struggled to make a Christmas list every year.
Rather than pressing him to create a list and write a letter, I turned the tables on this tradition. I wrote a letter from Santa to my son.
I wanted him to know that his kindness and appreciation for people, not things, deserved acknowledgment.
And who better to hear it from than Santa?
From Mr. C…
On Christmas morning, not only would my son find a dish of cookie crumbs, an empty glass of milk, and a red sack of goodies from Santa, but he also found a letter from Mr. C. himself.
Santa often wrote how proud he was of the little boy that was growing and changing. He wrote about his kindness toward others. Every year, Santa highlighted a trait evident throughout the previous year.
A lesson, an observation, something my son needed to hear.
After squeals of excitement from the sight of brightly wrapped packages, he would ask me to read Santa’s letter. This tradition continued for many years until he announced one day it was okay not to write Santa’s letter.
Sad to see this wonderful tradition end, I continued writing. This time, the letter was a list of my observations in his Christmas card.
This new tradition continues today, and I hope it is carried forward to future generations.
If you’re a parent reading this and have never considered authoring a Santa letter for your child, try it this year! I promise you won’t regret it and your children will love it too.
The Gift of Giving
…Back to my Christmas list.
Because I’ve always found more joy in giving than receiving, my list is for others.
I think Mr. C. would approve.
10 Things I Wish For This Christmas
1. Healing for those who are ill and suffering from invisible or unknown illnesses.
2. Compassion for those who are struggling after the loss of a loved one or the worsening of a health condition.
3. Kindness for those who are alone this holiday season. (If you’re hosting family or friends, invite that person to join your celebration.)
4. Acceptance for those with different beliefs. For a day, open your mind, put your feelings aside, and consider an alternative viewpoint.
5. Strength and resiliency for those struggling with addiction or homelessness.
6. Charity for those needing a helping hand — a hot meal, a warm coat, a place to lay their head.
7. Gratitude for those you’ve taken for granted.
8. Forgiveness for those who didn’t know better.
9. Love for all who supported you when you needed it most.
10. Renewed faith for those who have lost hope.
That’s my list. It’s not the list I made as a child, but it’s the list that matters today.
On Friday, December 8th, My Mess Is My Message II was launched on Amazon and quickly became a #1 Bestselling book in the US, Canada, and the UK. The book features twenty-two stories from women who have mastered my adversity toolkit. I’m so honored to be a part of this book.
You can now purchase the paper book version here.
Until next week, be mindful, stay safe, and enjoy your holiday celebrations.
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Such a perfect read for this Holiday Season