It’s Christmas and if you are like me it’s shaping up to be quite different this year. I’ve got a zoom gift exchange planned with friends who live only a couple miles away but who I cannot be in-person with. I’ve got a game night planned on Christmas night with my family in New Hampshire also over zoom. I’ve got plans for my sister and family to come up to visit and we both know it’s not going to happen but neither one of us can bring ourselves to say the words and cancel it yet.
It’s a weird year and yet it is still Christmas and there is still plenty of joy and much to feel thankful for. So, this year I thought I would share with you a list of my favorite things from 2020 – the pleasures small and large that have kept me going in spite of everything.
2020 Favorite Things
Family and friends through phone, zoom or socially distanced get-togethers (thank God for technology)
The heating/cooling unit on my sunporch (so I can stop either freezing or sweating while I work)
My Nespresso machine
My Covid bubble peeps (I’m sick of you all but I love you all)
Walks, walks, more walks
Lyla (her name in Hindi means play/amusement – that puppy lives up to her name every day)
Firepit socials
The Chuckit!
Tennis shoes (I may never wear heels again)
Schitt’s Creek (best wishes, warmest regards, over and over again)
Deck socials
Zoom, zoom, more zoom (love/hate relationship here)
Yoga pants (I ordered more, did you?)
Puzzles
Audio books (while doing a puzzle)
Masked up, air filtered, disinfected, one-on-one Pilates lessons (keeping me sane)
My house (sick of being in it but grateful for it)
Salted Caramels from Costco (recommend)
Amazon, Doordash, Instacart
A refreshing change of scenery at the beach (twice)
My big backyard (keeping Lyla sane)
Outside (all of it)
A fire in the fireplace to write in front of
Neighbors who snow-blow me out when it snows
A good laugh and a good cry
Fulfilling meaningful work
Koi pond hilarity (Lyla’s gone in twice on accident – most recently through the ice)
A good read (recommend American Dirt if you haven’t read it)
A dance party while I get ready in the morning
Cute reading glasses (because if I have to use the dumb things they might as well be cute)
All the over-the-top Christmas lights
So much love and support
I hope that each of you also have your own list of favorite things that have buoyed your spirits, kept you connected and helped you persevere during the past year.
I wish each one of you a very Merry Christmas!!
About the Author:
Michelle Mays, LPC, CSAT-S is the Founder of PartnerHope.com and the Center for Relational Recovery, an outpatient treatment center located in Northern Virginia. She has helped hundreds of betrayed partners and sexually addicted clients transform their lives and relationships. Michelle is the author of The Aftermath of Betrayal and When It All Breaks Bad and leads the field in identifying and crafting effective treatment strategies for betrayed partners.
Braving Hope is a ground-breaking coaching intensive for betrayed partners around the world. Working with Michelle will help you to move out of the devastation of betrayal, relieve your trauma symptoms and reclaim your life.