Melanie has provided some thought provoking questions today. I had some immediate responses to some. Others required more thought and contemplation. To participate in the challenge go here to see all the details.
NEW YEAR’S THEMED QUESTIONS:
What was the single best thing that happened in your life this past year? This June I retired after 35 years of teaching in public schools.
The most challenging? In August I was diagnoised with IC.
One thing you learned in 2019? I learned I am a strong woman who needs to take care of herself when some let me down and I need to allow some special people in my life support me emotionally.
Given all your experiences, insights, and lessons learned in 2019, what’s the best advice you could give yourself for 2020? The best advice I would give myself is to not allow people to inflict harm if there is any way to prevent it.
What’s the best meal/food you ate in 2019?
The most appealing food I ate this year would have to be tacos from my favorite hole in the wall establishment. I had to wait six months before I felt it was safe to try and eat a forbidden food.
What are three activities you plan to use in the coming year to relieve stress? I hope to continue to sew, get manicures, and spend time in my garden as stress reducers.
Gratitude Question:
What brought you the most joy and are you going to do more of that? Sewing brought me joy. Making things for others makes me happy. I hope to do more of that throughout this next year.
Any resolutions you’d care to share? The resolution I have for next year is to leave a relationship that is causing me saddness and to continue relationships that bring me joy.
Do dogs ‘talk’ (communicate) with their own species? (credit to Marilyn of Serendipity) We all know dogs communicate to indicate trespassers as well as leaving their pee mail to be discovered.
Have you ever had to work on Christmas Day? As I spent the majority of my working carreer as a teacher we were always off for winter break.
If someone gifts you something that you immediately loathe, do you pretend to really like it anyway or are you brutally honest about your opinion?I would never be so rude as to disparage a gift.
Which popular drink, found during the Christmas season most often, is called “milk punch?” I have never heard this term before. A guess would be eggnog, but that is only a guess.
How many ghosts show up during “A Christmas Carol?” I believe three, Christmas past, present, and future.
Are you all about the holly and jolly or more about remembering the alleged ‘true’ meaning of Christmas? As Hanukkah is my holiday, I am not concerned with the holly or jolly. Acutally I do like the lights everywhere though.
Please share a memory or thought about the holiday season if you’d like, whatever kind of celebration you may observe. A vivid memory I like to revisit was when my first grandchild, now almost 16, was 4. We lit the menorah, covered our eyes, and said the prayers. He covered his eyes and moved his lips causing us all to giggle and rejoice.
From Donna, ” Due to the subject matter, and because December is a sort of celebration month. For some people. For others? It’s very bitter sweet or even down right depressing. If you’re one of the latter, make sure to take care of yourself during this time. Lots and lots of help available.”
QUESTIONS:
What’s your remedy for the Holiday blues?
Your favorite beverage (if it differs) during the holiday season? If it doesn’t differ, just answer the ‘what’s your favorite beverage” part.
This one has been asked before, but what’s your take on pumpkin spice?
Is there is a person or god connected with your holiday?
Who are they and do you believe in them?
If you do not believe in these people or gods, does the celebration/honoring of that being, bother you in any way (e.g., ignored, dismissed, angry, etc.)?
MY RESPONSES:
What’s your remedy for the Holiday blues? I try to keep myself busy. I also haveSeasonal Affective Disorder. I need to keep myself occupied with activities so my mind doesn’t take over. I love to donate to others during the season. I tey to saty focused on the things I am grateful for and not the pain my heart feels.
Your favorite beverage (if it differs) during the holiday season? If it doesn’t differ, just answer the ‘what’s your favorite beverage” part. Sadly, with my new diagnosis of IC, I am severly limited on beverages. The only “safe” beverages are water, blueberyy jouice, and pear juice. Even in super small doses the fruit juices are too sweet. So my new normal all year round is water. I am grateful my illness is in remission. I will continue to follow the diet restrictions if it means lowered pain levels.
This one has been asked before, but what’s your take on pumpkin spice? I am not a fan of pumpkin spice. It is a little overwhelming for me.
Is there is a person or god connected with your holiday? Yes, I celebrate my holiday with the knowledge of G-d. I consider myself a cultural Jew. I do not agree with nor do I suscribe to organized religion. I believe that everyone can and should enjoy religious freedom. I believe noone should shove their beliefs on anyone else.
Who are they and do you believe in them? See above. My higher power, whom I call G-d, exists everywhere in my belief system.
If you do not believe in these people or gods,does the celebration/honoring of that being, bother you in any way (e.g., ignored, dismissed, angry, etc.)? In my opinion Hanukkah has become way too much like Christmas. It is a minor holiday. But that being said, I see why families make a big deal out of the eight nights celebrations. In a perfect world for me I would do something with family or friends for most of the evenings. I like the way many are now committing each night to a specific type of gift. Here is a great article about the types of gifts to give.Here is another great list of ideas. To me the reason to celebrate is to remember our history and to connect with our family. I am retired now, and there have been less and less get-togethers. Family is spread out, MIA, busy, and/or busy celebrating Christmas. Things are different and it can be sad.
Here are a few of the many songs I enjoy during this time of year. The funny thing here is that I adore Christmas music. I have thirty plus CDs from different artists. I don’t celebrate Christmas but I love the music.
I also love Hanukkah music.
And of course:
Happy Hanukkah, Happy Holidays, and Merry Christmas to all.
Is copying and pasting images or information off the Internet plagiarism? Do you credit those whose work you ‘borrow freely’ or do you think the idea is repugnant? (Credit for this question goes to GC and Sue) If I copying images that have credits, I leave the credits. If there are none I assume they are free to copy. If I get information from the internet, I refer to where it came from.
Do you let sleeping dogs lie? It depends. If there are issues out of my circle of infuence, I try to let it go.
What’s the strangest pet name (for adults) that you’ve ever heard someone called? I knew a couple who called each other moon (from I love you to the moon) and back ( from the moon and back again). It was strange hearng moon and back as their names.
Do you like to dance? If yes, what’s your favorite and if no, why not? I do not dance. I have never. Before marrying my now spouse and I took dance classes in salsa and ballroom styles. We were so bad the instructor asked us to stop coming after 5 ot 6 classes. It affirmed my belief that I have two left feet.
Gratitude Question:
November brings Thanksgiving to Americans. I know Canada celebrates Thanksgiving too, but I believe it’s in October. Does your country celebrate a similar holiday? If you’d like, share some traditions you observe around Thanksgiving or if you don’t celebrate Thanksgiving, what are some traditions you have? I love Thanksgiving. It is much better than the gift giving holidays. It is a gift of time and love and family. We always have matzo ball soup, one or two turkeys, stuffing, mashed potatoes, cold veggies, hot veggies, and of course chocolate desserts. Chocolate is a part of our traditions as we are all chocoholics. This year Thanksgiving falls on my aunt’s birthday. She will be 94. My spouse will drive an hour and a half to pick her up. Then he will drive the hour and a half back for dinner. After dinner he will repeat the run. I am very grateful that he will do this to bring her to our home to spend the holday with us.
What is the meaning of true love? True love is when you care fore someone and know they equally care about you. You compliment each other and don’t lose yourself in the relationship.
Do acts of kindness have a motive? They may or may not have a motive. Many are better at giving kindness than receiving.
If we live in a civilized world why do we see so many distinctions between rich and poor? We aspire to be in a civilized world. We can only practice humanity and hope others do also. When people purposefully hurt others it sadly demonstrates their being uncivilized.
Do we love ourselves more in the virtual world than in the real world? I don’t believe we love ourselves more in any world. I do believe we like to pretend we are better people in most ways in the virtual world.
Gratitude Question:
Are you grateful? I practice being grateful every day. Being grateful makes me look at the good things in my life. There are very many good things. I am grateful that this coming Thanksgiving I will have the honor of hosting my aunt’s 94 birthday. I have a warm house, a safe vehicle, a caring spouse, a furbaby, lots of books, and tons of free time.
Melanie has provided some thought provoking questions today. I had some immediate responses to some. Others required more thought and contemplation. To participate in the challenge go here to see all the details.
