Are you feeling disconnected from some of the important things of life during this busy holiday season?

Maybe, like me, you’ve allowed yourself to become distant from many of the things that once brought you life and meaning. I hope I can encourage you and myself to reach out and connect to those people and things that really matter once again.

I was watching Disney’s version of A Christmas Carol  last night. I wonder if Mr Dickens had any idea how profoundly his redemption story of Ebenezer Scrooge would affect people each year! It’s a perfect story to watch before the beginning of a new year. Most of us are certainly not as far gone as grouchy old Scrooge, but I know it always inspires me to live better, love more and try to connect to others in a more genuine and giving way as I’m sure it does for many others as well.

My natural inclination as an only child from a single parent who has had a life of moving a lot is to withdraw and isolate myself. I find I can easily become overwhelmed by all the things in life that ‘should’ get done and stop doing the most important things – connecting with people, with myself and the things that feed my soul, and most importantly, connecting with God, the one who really brings me life!

It’s crazy when you look at the calendar and realize how long it’s been since you’ve called or visited someone. It’s sad when you realize that you’ve neglected an important relationship for so long that it’s basically withered away, and a part of you has withered too.

My husband and I moved over 1 and 1/2 years ago and somehow just haven’t made the effort to make new connections and have let many old ones slip. It is my New Year’s resolution, so to say, to remedy that situation. Getting healthy and fit are great goals which I still aspire to, but what use is any of it if we don’t have ‘love’? Paul’s inspiring words in 1 Corinthians chapter 13 come to my mind – basically, if we don’t have love, we have nothing. We can do all kinds of great things, but without love, it’s all worthless in the end.

I don’t think any of us really realize the importance of connection until we suddenly find ourselves feeling disconnected! I have some great connections that I am very thankful for. I want to deepen and strengthen those connections. I know there are many more wonderful people to meet and love in my time on this earth and I look forward to that. Right now though, my heart grieves over those of you that I’ve loved and let slip away.

If you are one of those people out there, please know that you are important to me and I hope some time in the future we can reconnect again. So many people have had such an important impact on my life – many of them I’ve never even met! People who share themselves with the world through their talents of art, writing, music or acting. People who’ve lived such an authentic life that someone else has recorded it for the world to be inspired by.

I may not have lived as authentically and fully as I would have liked to so far, but I hope I can inspire you now to reach out and connect to those from Christmases Past, Present and Future!

Merry Christmas to all and and may you have many New Years filled with love and meaningful connections!

In the infamous words of Tiny Tim – who lived on because of one man’s changed heart that went from fear and grasping to freedom and giving –

“God bless us, Every One!”

Love to you all,

Noella