The Most Wonderful Time of Year

If there were one period of time that perfectly encapsulates the meaning of one of my favorite “isms” Gooped Up on the Gop, it would be this time right here.  From mid autumn through the end of year.  It’s my most favorite time of year.  To me, it really is: The Most Wonderful Time of Year.  And the beginning of December marks the start of the most most favorite and most most wonderful.

I just love all the anticipation, the eager excitement, the beautiful resurgence of kid-at-heart feeling, the traditions, the sights and smells and sounds…it’s a time of year where it feels like story lives even more vigorously than “usual”.  Of course I would contend story lives in the same way all the year long, but this holiday time of year is special I think, because we are more aware of it’s steady heartbeat.  We are more conscious, through our nostalgia, of the history of the story.  We are more thoughtful about the present *creation* of the story.  And while there is so much hustle and bustle, we seem to be more willing to intentionally take notice of the story that happens amid all the clatter.  We try to slow down a little and capture it because there is that….feeling.  And sometimes it’s even hard to describe what that feeling is.  It’s the Story.

And that is amazing.

And so as many of us are creative types and are in love with documenting the pulse of our story, it’s not surprising that there is a lot going on this month:  A lot of memory making.  A lot of documenting.  A lot of opportunity for cultivating your story.  From the quintessential core of holiday storytelling in Ali Edwards December Daily to the journal centric holiday Grow With Love project here at Plant Your Story to projects from Tiffany Tillman and Shimelle and back, there are pockets of true inspiration to be had if you’re hoping for nudges and encouragement in capturing your story this time of year.

My personal hope for this season is to focus on *making* memories and *creating* my story.  With intention, with sincerity and with a heart for letting the story my family and I are creating guide my documentation of it.  I’ll snap some photos, reflect on the traditions and the history of our holiday story,  I’ll pet some pretty paper and play with some paint, I’ll write.  But mostly I am striving for my focus to be on the StoryMaking..and the storytelling will come from that.

I’m not going to stress about the timeline or about the perfect photo.  I’m going to embrace imperfection and give myself permission to chase creative butterflies and not be married to my notions of what my December documenting is *supposed* to look like.  I’m going to focus on remembering the details throughout the day and treasuring even the “smallest” memory.  I’m going to hold tight to the moment.

And I’m going to share encouragements throughout the month from fresh storytelling prompts and inspirations to a few freebies.  This month is going to be about the details and moments.  So hope you’ll join me!