Magic in the New Year

Making room for all the good stuff

This was the first year in my long life that I couldn’t wait to take the Christmas decorations down. Yes, I am the person who over-decorates for holidays, and this year was no exception. 

But the thing was, we were still painting walls and figuring out where various bits of furniture would go from when we moved in, and then all of a sudden it was time to put out the holiday decorations, and get ready for family to stay with us. We ended up finishing the house improvements as we were putting up the decorations. We put off the final regular house decor until after the holiday season. 

We had a wonderful Christmas, made all the more special since my daughter and son-in-law nearly didn’t make it from Seattle due to ice storms, cancelled flights, striking trains and all the general drama with flying internationally this time of year. But they did arrive before the last ferry on Christmas eve and we were able to settle down, count our blessings, and watch the Muppets Christmas Carol, together. 

By December 31, they were gone and I was ready to move into the new year. Down came the various Santa and nutcrackers, the Tomten on the mantle, the straw deer in the bookcase, and the sparkly glass beads and ornaments hanging from the chandeliers. Into their boxes went the holiday plates and bowls, the children’s story books, the stockings and festive bunting. I admit the fairy lights on the stair bannister are still up, and I’ve replaced the Christmas tree lights with a set of bottle lights for our growing collection of colourful gin bottles. 

Extra lights are so important during this dark time of year; they just take another form after Christmas.

Meantime, the living room is sparkly and clutter-free, the bathroom has been repainted (thanks Pete!), and the boxes of decorations are tucked away safely until next year. Our stash of donations for the upcoming rotary club event is growing nicely. The walls are starting to look like someone lives here, and we have a stack of frames and pictures to assemble and put up. My arms are itching for a non-rainy day to get out in the garden. It feels GREAT.

I’m not big into resolutions or trying to make huge changes at the New Year, but I do like a physical and mental clear out. After the physical clearing, the mental clear out means taking some time to reflect on what’s happened the previous year, and looking forward to what is already planned for this new year. If I give myself the time to do that, I gain renewed energy and sometimes, wonderful unexpected things happen as a result.

This year, I had barely started my year-end reckoning when one of my dear Plymouth friends (from where we moved a year ago) contacted me and said she was going to be in the area this weekend and could she come visit! 

I like to think that maybe, just maybe clearing those mental and physical loose ends has now made some space so that a treasured friend magically popped into my life again for a visit. And what a joy that will be! I admit I do like a bit of woo-woo thinking in my life, as it would be rather dull to think there wasn’t some mystery and magic in our world.

How about you? Do you like resolutions? Do you make lists, have goals, set intentions? Do you believe in this kind of magic? I’d love to hear what you do and think as I love to try new routines every now and again, and I don’t need to wait until the new year either! I’m always ready for magic!

And a very Happy New Year to you all!

Sabrina