So my brain is having a little difficulty with the juxtaposition of a tropical Christmas. I’m Canadian and am most familiar with the typical western Christmas. You know, the cold weather, soaring dark pine trees, snow covered ground and mugs of hot chocolate. Being absolutely bombarded everywhere you go with Christmas music and decorations, usually starting before Halloween!
Well now I am having not only my first Christmas abroad, but my first without the kids. I have travelled a lot without the kids, so that part doesn’t feel too strange yet. Christmas day however, I expect to be quite a challenge without my three hearts.
Today is December 16th, I have been in Mexico for two weeks. My brain knows its getting really close to ‘the day’ now but my eyes and ears are not computing what they normally would be! Take this morning for example. I walked to the beach at sunrise, the air was a balmy 24 degrees, and the Christmas decorations in the square were surrounded by palm trees and the sound of waves lapping the shore.
As I walked along the beach with my feet in the surf, I contemplated how strange it is that it takes my brain so long to adjust. I knew when I started this journey that it would be weeks and weeks until I was able to slow myself down. My psyche is so ingrained with the proverbial rat race, or hamster on a wheel if you will. As my kids will attest to, I have a difficult time as it is, being chill. But I want chill, I crave chill. Chill is my goal.
Sitting down
After I had walked for a spell, I found a calm place to sit and watch the morning wake up while I waited for my feet to dry. I decided to play some Christmas tunes from my phone, not loudly, that’s not my jam. Just high enough to be heard over the waves and gulls. So there I was, sitting on the beach in Mexico, legs splayed, hands resting behind me, and singing along to Boney M.’s rendition of Mary’s Boy Child. It was so beautiful! It was so bizarre and wonderful at the same time. The next tune was Jake Owen singing Mele Kalikimaka which of course got the feet moving. Then I was up and stretching to Mariah Carey belting out ‘All I Want for Christmas’. With dry feet now I stood quietly, hands splayed out towards the big Mexican sun, eyes closed and I listened to Band Aid sing ‘Do They Know its Christmas’. A feeling of utter gratitude came over me.
These are the little things that are important. They are the little things that will help me adjust. Today I have Christmas in my tropical heart.
