STOWING THE OLD TO MAKE WAY FOR THE NEW


Christmas has come and gone--yet one more time.  It now is time to take down all the trimmings and decorations.  What would it look like to still have your house decorated from top to bottom when the New Year rolls around--Why perhaps even Valentine's Day might see not only red, but also green decorations with a side of tinsel thrown in.  Somewhere along the line, SOMEONE started this silly notion you would have bad luck if the New Year saw you with Christmas decorations still adorning your abode.  I am CERTAIN it was some OCD sufferer who needed all things put back in order ASAP!

I begin the process EVERY TIME with the distinct intent of doing one room at a time.  An orderly process with boxes labeled and stored as I go.  Rooms cleaned from top to bottom and all restored to their previous state.  This worked well for the first container, but then I am driven with the need to have it all down at the same time.  It soon becomes a quest to get it ALL down, in a box, and put away---out of sight for another year!  

This lead to a house stripped bare of all decorations--Christmas or generic --it's all put away.  AND the slate is as blank as the first day I moved in.  It is now up to me what I put out for as a statement of who I am and what I like.  The question becomes, will I put everything back exactly like it was--or will I change it all--or keep some--lose some?  There is a new beginning courtesy of Christmas being over and what do I intend to do with that opportunity for difference?  Will I make improvements--try the untried--or will I continue in the rut which I have grown accustomed?



So it is with the new calendar.  I have had my new calendar in hand for a while and have already begun filling in the slots.  The question becomes--Do I intend to live life exactly as I did last year---or will I make some needed changes?  Is there not room for improvement and will some change not be a good thing?  When given the opportunity will I keep more of the same or assess/evaluate and make needed changes?

The things that roll around in my head--when taking down the tree!


“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.
 See, I am doing a new thing
Isaiah 43:18

7 comments

  1. I am not so sure about all this stuff like "A change is as good as a rest!" and "Changing things lead us to a new beginning!" and all that. I prefer things to stay as they are. They may not be perfect right now, but much better than they would be if we mess with things.

    I remember once at a fair I went to see a fortune teller. She was 200 years old and as shrivelled as a prune. She said to me: "You are due for some great change soon ... Your vests and underpants!"

    What a cheek? I had only bathed and changed earlier on that month, and all!

    You know ... and this is true ... one year I kept the Christmas decorations for a whole year. I left the calendar on the wall at December and not put up a new calendar. I wanted the Christmas spirit to last all year through ... even though the bottles had been long empty.

    My wife said nothing about it. But her solicitor did. I replied that I will be answering his letter in the New Year ... He is still waiting.

    So be like me, Lulu. Original. Quirky. Eccentric. Leave all the decorations as they are and tell your family, friends and visitors that you are following an English tradition and doing just like me.

    Let me know how you get on.

    God bless and Happy Easter.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Laughing, Victor, it’s too late! Will try your suggestion next year- NO that’s wrong- the year after next year- wait that may be too late- OH WELL- back to the same old same old!
      Happy New Year, Victor!

      Delete
  2. After reading you blog and then, Victor’s...
    I’m not sure how to respond. I love that verse from Isaiah...I vote for “fruit basket turnover”. Keep some of the old, but Be open for lots of new beginnings, and MAYBE stop thinking so much. Hee hee.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have been accused of over processing on more than one occasion!
      Happy New Year, Vannie!

      Delete
  3. We started today...I took the Christmas villages down, packed them away until next year, and some other stuff as well. Hubby said the tree will come down tomorrow. I guess, to be honest with you, I just wasn't into (decorating) this year like I usually am and I just wanted to clean up the house in a hurry. I'm going to chalk it up to recovering from surgery syndrome.

    My Daybook will be full soon, with classes/schedule. I hope you have a beautiful day friend...I saw you posted this on FB, but decided to comment here, smiles.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I always link my posts to my FB page. Would you believe my mist hits come via FB? I have finished putting it all away inside- a couple of thing left outside & I’m done! Clean slate!
      Happy New Year, My Friend!

      Delete
  4. In some church traditions, it is perfectly okay to keep Christmas up until the day of Epiphany, the celebration of the Wise Men showing up to give Jesus their gifts, i. e., The Twelve Days of Christmas. That's what I've decided to do this year, and my next post will reflect this practice. Such a lovely season of the year, I want to hold on to it just a bit longer . . .
    Blessings for the New Year, Loralu!

    ReplyDelete

Your comments keep my writing and often cause me to think. A written form of a hug or a pat on the back and an occasional slap into reality---I treasure them all!