TRULY ‘TIS THE SEASON

I absolutely love this time of year!  This is such a magical time of year.  The holiday season, regardless of the religious faith or type of celebration, is so much more full of love, kindness, thoughtfulness and giving.  There is more caring.  I am so puzzled why this growth of love is not felt and shared year-round but we will, perhaps, ponder that another time.  Full disclosure: I grew up in a family that makes each day magical so Christmas and other holiday celebrations are just amped up versions of any other day for me.  And this is a wonderful thing. 
 
I have already received, what I believe is my best Christmas present, this year.  And it arose out of the most unimagined way.   Nine years ago, I, reluctantly, took on the role of power of attorney for a relative.  At the time, there was nothing going on that required me to act on any power of attorney duties.  Yet, I knew if and when something prompted me to act, I would not want to.  I even remember, a few years after consenting to acting as attorney-in-fact, telling the relative who made the request that I decided not to step into those shoes after all. There was no push back.  I left things there.  I did nothing to legally memorialize my changed decision.  I left it lingering and I knew what I was doing because, emotionally, I felt pulled in both directions.  I wanted to help but I did not want the job and it, truly, is a job.  I cannot begin to count the times I have counseled clients on all they need to consider when taking on the job of being or selecting an executor for a last will and testament and an attorney-in-fact for a power of attorney.  And no one knows the day and moment duty will call.
 
Well, duty called for me.  Wow, did it call!  Several months ago, I found myself looking for important papers, learning liabilities and other obligations and making healthcare decisions for someone whose matters were totally foreign to me.  During a few of those months, I had moments when I was frustrated and many, many moments when I threatened to withdraw from my commitment.  The person entrusted to me could not fully communicate with me for weeks.  Somehow, I did not bail out.  It was not that I decided not to bail.  I think it was more that, each day, I found myself pulled in by wanting to make things better in that moment.  
 
Acting in the present moment seemed to lead me to doing what I was called to do in that moment.  All those present moments carried me along a natural path to this moment.  They brought me to joy.  I became a part of someone else’s journey that was full of marvel.  Frankly, it has been a journey of miracles and I have been blessed to be a part of it.  The person in my care not only fully communicates but also so proficiently participates in her life that I am thankful I never walked away from the challenge.  She is not merely surviving.  She is thriving.  
 
The early Christmas present I referred to earlier is the front row seat I have had to another person’s evolving.  She has come through her experience better than before.  I am thankful for what I have witnessed and experienced but I cannot take any credit for anything at all.  I really cannot. 

See, she thinks I have done a great deal to help her but the truth is she and I have been led through this journey.  Riding on faith, I was led moment-to-moment, moment-by-moment.   As a result, I have simply been where I was supposed to be when I was supposed to be and I was inspired to do whatever was needed of me, along the way.  Additionally, whoever and whatever I needed always showed up, just in time, to help me pull off any task before me.

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​Seeing others grow, thrive and rise to their higher selves is a gift to them.  When I am so fortunate to be a part of that kind of flourishing, doing so is also a gift to me.  With this, to all who celebrate Christmas, I wish you a very Merry Christmas and to all who celebrate other faiths and beliefs, I wish you a very Happy Holidays!
 
One of the greatest gifts in life is being blessed by another person’s blessing.  What better paradigm of Christmas!
 
Thank You.  Thank You.  Thank You.