I’m a bit of a anti-consumerism and not wasting electricity kind of person BUT I was just coming home from dinner with a fab friend that lives in the US when this caught my eye.  So I did a detour and checked it out.

I felt like crying there was so much joy looking at these lights.  I was super happy.  It’s so childlike and innocent to be this excited about Xmas.  But this is what this time of year can do for many people.  Many are jaded and many are too busy to get involved – but what if you took 5 mins to check out your neighbourhood?  What if you could appreciate it like a little kid would?  What if you allowed yourself the pure excitement of magic and fairytales.

I am a bit sad this year because it turns out my favourite house in Dulwich Hill will no longer be doing their lights this year.  Here’s what it used to look like:

The Dad has become too old.  I am slightly embarrassed at how sad I felt about this.  I remember going to Lugano in Sydney to see their very famous lights and the sadness I felt when it turned out he wasn’t doing it anymore.  But what is the sadness?  Is it to do with lights?  With Xmas?  I think it’s to do with traditions and are we losing something we will never get back?  In 10 years time will kids still be excited about Santa and presents or will they all be too smart and too cynical and too grown up to care?  Will we stop decorating houses?  Because I don’t think there is much in life better than feeling like a little kid again.  And just momentarily believing in magic and fairytales and that anything could happen.  And that life really is a miracle and something incredibly special could be coming our way.  It’s just like stepping on crunchy leaves or going on a swing – but Xmas gives permission to adults become kids again.  And maybe that’s the true magic of Christmas.

Be kind to yourself this Christmas.  Love and laughter rules over expensive presents any day.

Wx