The true spirit of Christmas

Christmas... a holiday that I never actually enjoyed. In November 2000, 22 years ago, I lost my mom. And since then I never had a Christmas tree, until 3 years ago.

When I moved to Canada with my husband and my dogs, I had a family again to celebrate this holiday. In 2019, was the first time I actually decorated a Christmas tree by myself. I bought a lot of ornaments from big stores, it was beautiful, but it was... just a tree, decorated with a bunch of shiny balls.

And then 2020 was different, 2021 was better, and 2022.. I am starting to do what I like.

Instead of building a Christmas tree in half an hour, it took me 3 days. Each of the ornaments shown on the picture, we did it or bought from artisans or with real intention. Our tree is built by ourselves. No tree in the world is like mine. We have our dogs, we have butterflies, I made an angel, I have stones from a friend from Brazil, and the star on the top of the tree I made myself.. and then I realized, the actual Christmas spirit is this!

This tree, there is nothing like this around the world. 8 billion people, and this is my tree. Because I am putting on the tree what I really am. What I really like and love, the nature, the animals, my dogs, my family; my effort, my husband and my mother-in-law efforts.

And more important than have a tree that is just beautiful, is to have a tree with your heart on it. Your family, with ornaments made by yourself, that represent who you are. If you can, for next Christmas, make your own ornaments! This is who you REALLY are!

Happy holidays!