Greeting cards have all been sent; the Christmas rush is through…

As the hustle and bustle of the Holidays come to an end and we stretch into these liminal days between Christmas and New Year’s, I find myself wanting to linger on in the softness of the season. I do not want to give up that special, magical quality just yet. As I contemplate resetting the house for the New Year, I find myself really hesitant to let go of the comfort I find in the glowing, twinkling lights. I just want to linger in the sweetness and the gentleness of that glow.

I have gone so far as to consider something that I have never done before: not taking down my Christmas tree. Or, at least, not all the way. I am strongly considering taking off the ornaments but leaving the tree itself up and wrapped in its lights, preserving that soft, magical twinkling in my home throughout the new year. I may or may not go so far as to decorate the tree for other holidays, but I will cross that bridge when I get to it.

Right now, though, I just want the soothing softness of light, the magical glimmer in the corner of my eye. I welcome it to linger and last for as long as possible.