The simplest gift is the longest lasting of all
We’re just a couple weeks from Christmas gift-giving season, and I realized yesterday that I haven’t shopped for a single present yet. The best part is, I’m totally OK with it!
Although Christmas and even Chinese New Year outwardly revolve around spending money or gifting red envelopes, I’m surprised about how few presents I can actually remember from years past— except maybe that Barbie mansion I got one year as child (Mom and Dad, ahem, Santa really knocked it out of the park with that one!).
The thing that I can recall with the most clarity is how I felt during the holidays in the company of family and friends— the pride in helping my father sort sparkling lights for the house outside in the cold, the excitement of having my Mom teach me her favorite Christmas cookie recipes (and licking the spoon), and the awe of lying underneath the fragrant Christmas tree with my sisters while listening to Christmas music. The best parts of my adult Christmas celebrations have been cozy sofa snuggles by a tiny plastic Christmas tree and easy potluck dinners filled with laughs amongst my family of friends.
In short, the smallest, plainest, and probably least bank account draining portions of the holiday are what I cherish most. The things that all of them have in common are being present in the moment and being in the presence of people that I love. And even being far from home I can find ways of experiencing closeness. When I can’t physically be with those I care about, a phone call with undivided attention or the reenactment of a tradition or a family recipe can create this feeling of warm presence.
Whichever holiday you choose to celebrate and no matter whom you have by your side, I hope you can keep present in the moment and find some of the simplest, least stressful aspects to enjoy. Others, and even we ourselves will likely forget the gifts we gave or received, the new outfits we wore, or the level of perfection in the meals we ate. Effort, intention, and most of all, LOVE linger for years to come!
If you are joining in classes next week, feel free to wear red, green or something festive. I’ll be adding in holiday songs and we can practice being present and enjoy celebrating in each other’s presence! Please remember, no classes Friday-Sunday while I am teaching in Japan ,and 21-30 while I’m on Christmas holiday..
Keep moving!
xx,
Katie
這個最簡單也是最持久的禮物
再過兩周，我們就要進入聖誕節送禮物的季節，昨天我發現我還沒有買任何一個禮物，最棒的是我覺得非常OK。
雖然聖誕節甚至是農曆過年都是圍繞在花錢買禮物或是給紅包上，驚訝地發現從以前到現在我實際記得收到的禮物沒有幾個。除了小時候那個芭比豪宅（老爸老媽，那年聖誕老人真的打出了全壘打！）
在過節的時候，最讓我清楚記得的就是家人與朋友的陪伴：在寒風刺骨的庭院驕傲地幫著爸爸一起掛上聖誕燈、興奮地學習老媽最愛的聖誕餅乾食譜（以及大舔湯匙）、很享受地和姐妹們躺在清香的聖誕樹下聽著聖誕歌曲。成年後聖誕節最棒的慶祝方式就是和好友們窩在塑膠小聖誕樹旁，軟綿綿的沙發上，一起享受「一人一菜」的晚餐與歡笑。
簡而言之，整個節日當中我最珍惜的是最小、最平淡也最省錢的部分。它們的共通點就是活在當下，毫不分心地陪伴你愛的人。即使身在國外我也能找到不同的方法來體驗這份親密感。當我不能陪在家人身邊時，專注地打一通電話、重現一些傳統、或是煮幾道家裡常煮的節慶佳餚，都能創造／重現那份屬於你的溫馨感。
不論你選擇慶祝哪一個節日，不論誰在你的身邊，我希望你能持續地享受當下，並找到最簡單、最沒有壓力的方式來享受你的節日。我們雖然很有可能會忘記我們所收到或是給出去的禮物、我們所穿的新衣、我們吃的佳餚有多完美，但是是這些努力、初衷與愛能久留我們的心中！
如果你下週想來上課，可以穿紅色、綠色或是有節慶的服飾，我會加幾首聖誕歌曲，讓我們一起練習享受當下與享受彼此的存在！請記得週五到週日是沒有課的，因為我會到日本教課，還有21號到30號我休聖誕節唷！
繼續前進！
愛你的 Katie
( Anna Liang 譯 )