I believe the classic carol is sung as… seven months a smiling.
I’m paraphrasing of course, but it’s now been seven months since I tied the knot with the love of my life.
We’re experiencing our first Christmas as a married couple, and while it’s not the one we originally pictured, it’s one we anticipated since saying ‘I do’ on May 23, 2020.
Hey, we haven’t even gone on a real honeymoon yet.
In a normal year, we’d be travelling to our stomping grounds to gather with our families around a table intensely decorated by my mother, who also sweated over a hot stove in preparing the turkey and ham dinners with all the fixins.
With COVID-19 surging in Northern Health and the discouragement of non-essential travel, we made the decision to stay in Prince George and share an intimate holiday together.
It was one of the hardest decisions we ever made, but one we knew, in our gut, was the right one.
I’m missing sharing stories with my parents, siblings and in-laws of mine and my wife’s adventures here in the north and catching up on their lives too, but here’s the thing, if you’re in the same predicament...
You can still do that!
It is possible to see or talk to your loved ones even if you’re not in the same room, and it’s thanks to some of the world’s greatest inventors like Alexander Graham Bell, Steve Jobs and the person who created Zoom to make that possible.
Believe it or not, conversation keeps us sane.
Not talking to someone, especially during a time of year meant for celebration and gratitude, will leave a lasting effect on our mental health and could keep us in bed under the covers for an entire day.
By simply picking up a phone and dialing a number, or opening a video-calling app, you’re opening yourself up to endless possibilities of joy, peace, happiness, support, compassion and forgiveness.
Your family can help you with that, and I guarantee they won’t turn their cheek to you.
I strongly hope most of you at home are enjoying your Christmas right now, in whatever way you’re choosing to spend it.
If you didn’t travel for Christmas this year, trust me, in the long run, you’ll see why you made the right decision.
If you did travel to see family, then I sincerely really hope you travel safe and wear a mask everywhere you go, that you don’t get COVID-19, spread it or bring it with you asymptomatically to any necessary in-person meetings, offices, your household or anywhere you have to visit.
We in the media are hearing all kinds of stories involving COVID-19 and please, please trust us when we say, this is something that WE don’t want to last forever too.
Next year, I want my wife and I to fly home for Christmas because it’s an important holiday for several sentimental reasons.
I’m sure some of you are saying the same thing too, so for the sake of everyone you love, don’t mess this up.
In the meantime, I’m spending Christmas cuddled on the couch with my wife watching movies, the World Junior Hockey Championships, reruns of Schitt’s Creek, Friends and/or Frasier, opening gifts mailed to us, and video-chatting with friends and family across the country.
She’s currently cooking an applewood smoked ham with potatoes, stuffing, yams and vegetables and it smells fantastic.
My final word… take joy in the little things, be thankful for opportunity, turn up the music and understand that you matter more than you think!
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