Now- here I could start to talk to you about maintaining a healthy weight during the holidays- and super easy healthy recipes… but we will get there this month… today I want to talk about relationships! 
(Here is where you say… Awwww)
Last Year's Tree (This year's will be up soon!)
As most of you know… I am all in love! I know- sticky sweet- but true! This is our first holiday season together. As if there isn’t enough pressure and stress on people every day- then we add the added “joy” that the holidays can sometimes bring… then I have all these “expectations” about a wonderful season of love and peace and perfect nights with a glass of wine by the tree… all lights and pretties! (And if you are my closest friends- you are now shaking your head, sighing and saying “of course you have expectations!”)
Well- some of you know better and I am learning too. Christmas has it’s own set of bags we all bring into the season with us. Good, Bad, whatever- it just is. We all have different holiday traditions we want to preserve because they are important to us… and GASP those traditions might clash with the person we spend the majority of that holiday season with now! Or they might not… the interesting part about a relationship- is finding out what is important to each other- and examining yourself to determine if what you think is important really is… and deciding if there is something you can let go or not.
Pretty!
The tree. I LOVE to decorate the tree. I don’t have kids- and there are no children in my close circle of relationships that I have to worry about touching the tree… so my tree is pink and frilly and glass and sparkly and oh so lovely! But this will be the first year My Guy has celebrated Christmas in a home without children… so his idea of a tree is a beautiful family tree with treasured ornaments and lots of colors. It took me a minute to think that through and relate… It was kind of an “aha” moment for me in that we get along soo well and are so often on the same page- that to be looking at something “so important” from different perspectives- made me skip a beat for a minute.
I am learning to not make assumptions and try not to hold my expectations in too high regard. I am learning to ask the questions… “So- what time do YOU like to eat Thanksgiving dinner?” Not assume he wants to eat at 5-6pm like we often do at my brother’s home when I am blessed to be there.
This year- we are still having a “pretty tree” since it is what we have on hand- but we are looking for a second tree on clearance after the holidays and will start building our own “beautiful family tree” in the bedroom… and who knows someday THAT tree will be the one in the living room and my “pretty tree” will be the one in the bedroom. I am totally OK with that! Also, My Guy is picking out and buying the stockings! I am excited to see what he chooses and to hang them in OUR living room and fill them up with love for one another and our family!
Relationships worth their weight- are also worth the work I think. They are not always easy- LOVE is not truly enough- you need LOVE and compromise and work to make them successful. (WHO KNEW?)
Do you have stories of how you learned to compromise over the holiday seasons?
Do you have traditions you just had to keep? What are they?
Love La-
Wellness is a Choice. Let me help you Choose Well.
la@lauriannamurray.com
a very thoughtful and meaningful post La! Merry Christmas!
lol…my DH and I are just the opposite. Being the real estate agent and very design oriented he wanted the designer tree. As the sentimentalism, I wanted all the ornaments his mom had collected for him and the ones we bought together as newlyweds on trips. He won. Love your post!