So, so true. It has taken several years of effort in our family to scale it back and shift our celebration to after Christmas. It was particularly challenging when the kids were younger and bombarded with the trappings of how everyone else around them was going whole hog throughout December. It requires mindfulness and intentionality, but worth it, in my opinion.
This is great. I have been thinking on this a lot. We have been attending Byzantine liturgy (I've always loved it) recently, and entering into the Nativity Fast has made me all the more cognizant of what this pre-Christmas time is for, especially since it is even longer for Easter rite Catholics! Thanks as always :)
Thank you so much, Tsh! I was just thinking earlier this week, as I settled in with my copy of "Shadow and Light" and the Spotify day-by-day playlist, that I'd love an Advent-y playlist I could run through the month--and there you were! Reading my mind! I'm enjoying year 2 of "Shadow and Light", by the way. I try to do the readings in the morning, which are lovely. And try to light my candle at dinner (though I sometimes forget). But I've also started to do this thing mid-afternoon where I have a snack, stare out my window at the bare tree branches (instead of my computer), and listen to the "Shadow and Light" playlist item for the day. For some reason I find it totally Advent-y and very soothing--a great break in the day. Thanks again!
Thanks, Tsh! I thought as I read your reply "Whoa, I have an afternoon liturgy. Yay!". I love thinking of it that way. I really just stumbled into the practice--I hadn't planned it--and realized in the middle of it "this feels very Advent". But now I want to keep doing it as often as I can this season. Glad it struck a chord! :-)
“Leaning into Advent is sipping a mulled cider and nibbling on a square of fudge.”
What a timely and beautiful message. Thank you!
The Advent Background playlist is heavenly. Listening right now as I make my grocery pickup order. Thank you for compiling it!
Thank you for the playlist! So happy to have this, and the Shadow and Light playlist - Advent doesn't have to be dour after all!
So, so true. It has taken several years of effort in our family to scale it back and shift our celebration to after Christmas. It was particularly challenging when the kids were younger and bombarded with the trappings of how everyone else around them was going whole hog throughout December. It requires mindfulness and intentionality, but worth it, in my opinion.
Amen and Thank you!
This is great. I have been thinking on this a lot. We have been attending Byzantine liturgy (I've always loved it) recently, and entering into the Nativity Fast has made me all the more cognizant of what this pre-Christmas time is for, especially since it is even longer for Easter rite Catholics! Thanks as always :)
Thank you so much, Tsh! I was just thinking earlier this week, as I settled in with my copy of "Shadow and Light" and the Spotify day-by-day playlist, that I'd love an Advent-y playlist I could run through the month--and there you were! Reading my mind! I'm enjoying year 2 of "Shadow and Light", by the way. I try to do the readings in the morning, which are lovely. And try to light my candle at dinner (though I sometimes forget). But I've also started to do this thing mid-afternoon where I have a snack, stare out my window at the bare tree branches (instead of my computer), and listen to the "Shadow and Light" playlist item for the day. For some reason I find it totally Advent-y and very soothing--a great break in the day. Thanks again!
Thanks, Tsh! I thought as I read your reply "Whoa, I have an afternoon liturgy. Yay!". I love thinking of it that way. I really just stumbled into the practice--I hadn't planned it--and realized in the middle of it "this feels very Advent". But now I want to keep doing it as often as I can this season. Glad it struck a chord! :-)