The holidays are more than a perfectly baked turkey!

While we find ourselves smack dab in the middle of the holidays, I can’t be the only one who needs reminding that Thanksgiving is more than a clean house, a perfectly cooked meal and Christmas is more than perfectly wrapped presents under a pine tree! It’s reuniting with family members you may not have seen in a while. It’s laughs, it’s tears, it’s cheers, its hugs, it’s forgiveness and it’s dancing! It’s sometimes yelling and zero balance bank accounts and it’s sometimes baking and giggling. It’s letting each other down and doing our best and putting our best foot forward. It’s saying the wrong things and it’s saying the right things. It’s messy, it’s loud and it’s precious, precious memories. In a few years nobody will remember if your turkey flops, but they will remember how they feel around you. They might think your house is a little messy or cluttered or even fabulous, but nothing matters as much as how you make your loved ones and guests feel. Let’s all remember to drop our insecurities, just let them go like powdered sugar in the wind. We’re all in it together and all of our imperfections are what make the beautiful tapestry of family. Someone once told me that it’s not necessarily the good times that make our best memories, it’s often times the flops, the not so good moments, the “I’m sorry’s’” that make up our best and most memorable moments. It’s the uncomfortable conversations with those from a different generation and awkward moments of silence and the brazen opinions of our loved ones that help shape us and help make our families cohesive. It’s being generous when you don’t think you have it to give. It’s being grateful that you’re experiencing yet another holiday season. There are only so many, folks! It’s bringing a little hope and Christmas cheer to someone’s day. It’s yet another opportunity to love on someone close to you. Even the ones who don’t seem to you love you enough. You can bring the sunshine! Life is too fleeting to waste a holiday season. So, bake those cookies, blast the Christmas tunes, give until it hurts and love your tribe like there’s no tomorrow. Here’s to embracing this holiday season as the most precious yet!