Weekly Wisdom #51 - All are welcome!

All are welcome here!

I saw several similar posts this week and felt like this wisdom should be passed along. Thanks to Adler Graduate School and @GMF.DESIGNS for the inspiration. These past few weeks have been a roller coaster for me as well.

Alarmed

Christmas can be stressful. On Christmas Eve day, my Mom called with a health issue and ended up in an ambulance, emergency room, and then on to further treatment at a hospital in the Twin Cities. Thankfully, all is well.

However, all of the roads were closed near me and my partner so I couldn't get out to be with her. That was scary and I felt helpless. She was able to communicate with me throughout the day via phone which provided a little relief.

She lost my Dad in 2018 and then her friend Jim in 2021. She came along on my family's Christmas this year, which may have helped. Her plans to visit my younger brother were thwarted by the weather and then by her emergency. So Christmas isn't easy for her. To assume she should be joy-filled during the holidays means she has to fake her way through. And, that's not fun for anyone.

Blessed

Since this was the first year our kids have their own places, we decided to try something new. Thankfully, my kid's father and I get along really well. We found a house on Airbnb and all flew to my daughter's state for a weekend of fun. We played cards and dice games all weekend.

I created a meal plan and list of groceries and my daughter picked everything up. The kitchen at the Airbnb was well stocked with all the gadgets we needed so we could make our egg bake, ham, and other goodies. Other than a lake cruise with delicious hot drinks and a fun North Pole experience, we just relaxed and had fun.

I am so grateful that we can celebrate as a family, even if we are no longer the traditional family. I am also blessed with a wonderful partner who appreciates, supports, and encourages me in these endeavors. He is a beautiful man!

Loved

Where I feel most loved is with my kids and with my partner. My kids, who are now young adults inspire me. They are out making their own lives in the world and doing what they enjoy. That's all a Mom could ask for.

My partner and I are imperfect and disagree sometimes, but I know he accepts all of me, the good, bad and ugly. He encourages me in my work and provides insight when I feel stuck. We enjoy many things together, including traveling, live music, pool, and good movies. Plus, we take plenty of intentional time for just us.

When you have people in your life with whom you can show up fully and still feel loved, there is nothing better! There are a few colleagues where this is possible too which means we can innovate. It's been a good year in that regard.

Other words

There are a few other words that come up this time of year.

• Grief - for the people who aren't here to celebrate with us. One of my best friend's lost his mother this year and another, her husband, brother-in-law, and stepson within a span of two months.
• Indifference - for people who say they want to celebrate while feeling a sense of fake niceties. Along similar lines, words that come up for me are excluded, rejected, and insignificant.
• Beauty - I have to end on a positive note. It's just my nature. There is beauty all around. The lights, the glistening snow, the beautiful cards I receive from friends and family, and the list goes on. Every year for about 30 years, I've completed some sort of Christmas craft, mostly ornaments for the tree.

In whatever way you show up for these final days of 2022, know that you are welcome to show up however you need with me.

• If your best is taking care of yourself, please do that.
• I don't have much scheduled this next week. If you need to talk to someone, please drop me a DM. I will hold space for you.
• If you want to share a story about someone you've lost, I can hold you. Drop me a DM and I am happy to listen.
• I don't have much scheduled this next week. If you need to talk to someone about anything, please drop me a DM. I will hold space for you.
• If you are contemplating suicide, please call 988. Help is available. You have gifts to share with the world!
• If you want to share your blessings for this year, please share them with me and we can celebrate together. All are welcome - big or small.

You are enough. I am enough. There is enough for all!