Holidays and Nostalgia

This time of year can be hard for many, especially for those who don't have family and friends, and for the ones who have a lot of responsibilities, or are going through tough situations. I know this only too well. I've been there, and it's not fun. 

However, I have always been fortunate enough to have people in my life who encouraged me to hang in there, and be strong. This will pass too, and life will get better. Even so, no one can do it for you. You're the one who has to face your challenges, and come out of it in one piece.

The holidays always remind me of the people I love. The ones who are around, and those who have passed on. And it's not that I don't think about the people I care about on other days, but somehow this time of year brings about a feeling of nostalgia for me.

I used to put up a real tree, not every year, because you know, life sometimes gets in the way. But the years that I did, I somehow felt better, more relaxed. This year, I was debating if I should put up something and send out some cards even though I rarely get a card from anyone. The card in the above photo is from an old friend, and it's the only one I have received so far. I think our parents knew each other before we were born. She loves Christmas, and I call her Santa Clause because her house looks like Santa's house, and as soon as the New Year begins, she starts counting the days until the next Christmas.

I decided last minute to do a little decoration and turn on my fireplace. No, it's not a traditional décor, but it's easy to put up. I don't have to go shopping for it, and it takes very little space when I put it away. I like things that are minimalist. I know that my nieces, and my Santa Clause friend would prefer a real tree. As for me, I want to keep it simple 😉

As you see, my cards have not been mailed yet. I'm not looking forward to the post office line. In L.A, lines can get a bit crazy, particularly around the holidays. Nevertheless, it's got to get done, because some of them are going to a few friends who live outside the country. I want to make sure that I put the right amount of postage. Also one year, the post office behaved like scrooge, and sent all my cards back because the size didn't meet their standard requirement (I think the envelopes were square instead of rectangle), and I needed to add more stamps to compensate for their irregular size.

This year, I made a few plans with my friends and family, one or perhaps two of which I will share here when it happens. I think if I didn't have any friends or family, I wouldn't let it stop me from having fun. I would watch my favorite Christmas movies, hang out in places that were festive, and strike up conversations with strangers. 

Life is what we make of it. There are times when we feel sad, because of stressful things going on in our lives. But we need to create moments of happiness, even if they are tiny moments. So, make time to create your mini moment and find some enjoyment, as small as it may be 💙

 

   

Happy Holidays from Los Angeles to Japan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There is magic around us 365 days of the year, if we pay attention.

 

My friends and family don’t exchange gifts anymore, but we do buy gifts for the kids.

 

It’s always fun to bake a few cookies. 

This is a photo of my friend standing by a Christmas tree at The Dolby theater in Hollywood.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I took this picture a few days into November in Japan.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christmas decorations go up early over there.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This man in Osaka was so nice to let me take a picture of his shop that hadn’t opened up to public yet. He was just starting to set up his merchandise for sale.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another picture I took while in Osaka. It was near the Umeda Sky Building.