{all i want for christmas}

Kat tagged me last week with a fun challenge: what five things would I put on my wish list this Christmas?  I was inspired by her responses too, which went beyond consumption and the frivolous. Much more to the heart of the matter.

And so I pondered my own wish list, and this is what I came up with:

Ritual - I want a sense of ritual. Christmas is a complicated time in mine and Ms L's lives.  We have some particularly challenging family stuff that has always made Christmas a bit fraught.  I want to create rituals for our little family and bring our own Christmas story to life.

Slow - I want to navigate the season with a sense of peace and grace.  It already feels so frenetic out there in the world.  People seem rushed, harried and willing to trample each other to get their to-do list ticked off.  It's the thing I hate most about Christmas.  I want to take time, choose gifts with care and wrap them with love.  I want to connect with people.  I want to bake treats.  I want to feel relaxed.  I want to go slow.

Christmas Spirit - sometimes Christmas feels so fraught and so harried that I find myself dreading it.  I'm always much happier when I have some Christmas cheer about me and get into the spirit of the season.  So I am wishing for a good dose of Christmas spirit, time spent with people I love and the opportunity to give generously to those in need.

A Fresh Start - it feels risky saying this one out loud, but I'm doing it all the same.  I want a new job.  I'm ready.  I want to put my talents to great use.  I want to grab hold of something and really make it my own.  I want to feel more rewarded each day - financially and emotionally.

And on the purely consumerist side of things - I really, really, really want an iPad!

I'm not a big fan of tagging people but I'd love to read your wish lists, if you feel so inclined.  Leave your list in the comments or a link to your own post and I'll pop over and check it out.