Christmas Chaos & Character

Christmas time is chaos time, and I know chaos builds character. This year I'm not stressed out by all the holiday craziness. I can experience the chaos in suspended animation - almost as if I'm observing the observer that I am. Wow, that sounds way too profound for 10:30 on a Monday night.

This holiday season is having a postitive impact on me for the first time in many years. I'm relishing the essence of it all - the faith, love, joy, hope and giving. In my mind and experience, crass commercialism, traffic and excessive partying has given way to the feeling of bliss I mentioned in an earlier post. Part of that simply has to be my work. I work to market an amazing company, Silverado Senior Living - we give LIFE (Love-Innovation-Family-Engagement) to those we serve - namely people sufferin from Alzheimer's Disease and other kinds of dementia. Our operating philosophy is "Love is Greater than Fear." We were recently named as number six on the list of best medium-sized companies to work for in Orange County, CA. What this company does is the essence of the holidays. That I get to work for such a company is an almost unfathomable gift that I humbly accept.

Tonight, after yet another delightful holiday party (this one with the chicks), I'm makin' a list and checkin' it twice to make sure I'm doing good things and avoiding the traps of self-aggrandisement. I'm also getting a big, fat, long, happy, blissful massage for my birthday on the 26th - the first massage I've had in more than 18 months. For me, this is a VERY BIG DEAL. And who is giving it to me? Santa Gary. My hero. The steady guy who just hangs in there through thick and thin, works hard and appreciates his family and friends. He is someone who has learned that Christmas can build character. He's been without family at a time when family means everything. He's experienced chaos too. The kind of chaos that may cause you to question everything you believe. Faith has pulled him through and built his character. He's my favorite character on the planet now - in chaos, at Christmas and always. I'm lucky to be his life partner, wife, lover and friend.

This year, it feels as if many of us are living our own corny, tearjerker "Fa la la la Lifetime" holiday movies. And in the end, life is still good.