There are so many things in life that give me a warm, happy, absolutely content feeling. In the hustle and bustle of mundane every day life, sometimes we forget to stop and revel in those moments that bring us little glimpses of joy. Today, I’m going to dedicate a few minutes to think about the things that bring me joy. And in the spirit of the holidays, I’m going to make it a winter/Christmas edition =)
That first breath of crisp, cold air…
While some may shudder at the thought of brutal winters coming around once again, there’s something about that first cold day of the year, that first bit of crisp, cold air that is just so exhilarating to me. It’s exhilarating to me because I know that with the cold air comes so many wonderful things: winter holidays, holiday shopping, seasonal drinks at Starbucks, chunky sweaters, and sky high boots…the list goes on and on…
The first roar of the furnace…
Once I catch that first breath of crisp, cold air, I know that it’s that time of year to start up the furnace. There’s something wonderful about waking up in the early morning, feeling the sting of the cold air on the other side of your blanket, but then being instantly comforted by the sound of the furnace coming to life. Likewise, there’s something homey and welcoming about commuting in the bitter cold snow, finally setting foot inside the house, and being greeted by the sound of the roaring furnace. Home sweet home…
Burning a winter scented candle…
Going hand in hand with the warmth and comfort of the furnace is the warmth and comfort that burning a winter scented candle brings. I love burning a candle in my bedroom and having a cozy holiday/winter scent waft up my nose every time I walk into my room.
Turning off the living room lights, lighting the Christmas tree, and watching the little lights twinkle in the dark…
There’s something so absolutely beautiful about a Christmas tree lit in the dark. It gives me such a warm, fuzzy, homey feeling. I used to come home from school in the evening, turn off the living room lights, light the Christmas tree, put on some Christmas music, and just sit in the glow of the Christmas tree listening to Christmas carols.
Listening to 98°’s This Christmas album from 1999…
I am a self-professed boyband lover. When I was a bit younger, every year, the weekend after Thanksgiving, my sister would turn on this album and we would put up the Christmas tree and decorate the house together. This always signaled the start of Christmas for me, and it’s always been a fond memory for me. Although we no longer live together, I still enjoy putting on this album the second Thanksgiving is over, and it still signals the start of Christmas for me, just as it used to.
Seeing the first presents under the tree…
Just as seeing my Christmas tree lit in the dark gives me warm and fuzzy feelings, so does seeing the first batch of presents placed under the tree. I’ve always had fond memories of everyone coming together on Christmas eve for mass, a hearty meal, and of course, for opneing presents. Seeing presents piled under the tree just gets me excited to do it all over again.
These are my favorite feelings during this time of year. Let me know in the comments down below what your favorite feelings are!
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Thanks so much for reading!
Presents under the tree give me so much satisfaction! Not only do they complete the tree’s overall aesthetic, but I am also obsessed with festive wrapping paper and love giving gifts, so I just get excited every time I see a huge grouping of them!
I couldn’t have phrased it better! I totally agree, it does add to the overall aesthetic. I also love giving gifts and seeing the looks on people’s faces when they get what they want. I used to just buy whichever wrapping paper was on sale, but lately I’ve been ignoring prices and just buying whichever pattern makes me the happiest =)