creative forces

 

Blog # 112…December, 2020

For some of us, twenty- twenty seems to have been all about losses - places to go, people to see, choices, feeling safe and a good night’s sleep.  The gains in access to streaming and the closeness of friends have attempted  to fill the gap and sometimes succeed, but we’re left with a ragged sense of what’s missing, like the phantom pain of an amputated limb.

Isn’t that just the cheery note to introduce the matter of Christmas!  The days are counting down  as covid numbers are mounting up and plans for family gatherings and office parties are being struck off the calendar. We’ve had to make lots of cancellations -  holidays, concerts, even seeing relatives … life seems to be closing in on us, especially as the days get darker.

Our house has been a spot to gather both for Christmas Eve, a somewhat traditional Quebecois meal served with bagpipes, and then Christmas Day around the dining room table.  We thought we’d do an outside hot cider party, with masks and distancing for the night before Christmas and that's still a possibility, I'm sure not more than 10 hardy souls will turn up, and we'll be in touch about it soon.  Christmas dinner though, we wanted to cook so we’ve done a pivot, like the restaurants, and are going to have take-out dinners ready for our friends instead of sitting together. Not as we’d wish it to be, but better than nothing…that’s become a slogan!

As you think of your Christmas plans (and some people will find the lack of the usual festivities a relief) a pivot may be necessary for you too… it’s important not to completely abandon arrangements and find yourself forlorn as the day approaches. So, the art of being flexible and thinking creatively will help get through it - could be alone with a favourite dish, maybe support a local restaurant that's providing special take out dinners, or cook something for someone else who’s alone.  It doesn’t have to be a big plan, could be just getting out some decorations or making a phone call to someone  to say hello.  Maybe it's time to establish a new tradition for future Christmases.

I’ve always loved what Louis Riel said about artists “My people will sleep for one hundred years but when they awake, it will be the artists who give them their spirit back.” Artists are helping us hold on to our spirits during this difficult time – writers helping provide a language for our experience, making us conscious of the common themes, musicians popping up on front porches as well as in grand concert halls, photographers recording our stories, dancers delighting us with their grace and visual artists interpreting our feelings and touching our hearts.

Maybe your Christmas Day could include a book or some music, quietly enjoying a reflective time with Anne Murray's new relaease in the spirit of the season,...and remember to be grateful not to be in a small boat with a vicious tiger.

                                          

Whatever you do, the day will pass, January will arrive on schedule and we'll be in touch to start a brand new year. See you then, stay calm, safe, kind and patient. Should we add hopeful?