So you may be going, why write a blog post about the Christmas Carol ghosts? That seems kind of lame. In fact we all know the story so well and have seen it in a variety of formats and versions, why reincarnate it again?
Well this question got me to thinking - what if I was to be visited by the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future? What would they show me and what might I learn from my adventure?
Well let's see, shall we!!??
The Ghost of Christmas Past
She would show me a shy (but very cute!) little girl. She would probably just shake her head and if she could speak (the ghosts never did speak did they?) would say "Dude child! Just speak! What is the worst they can say?" She would push me into situations that may have been a bit uncomfortable but that would help me come out of my shell and grow a bit as a person.
She would also probably go "Really? Did you just have to be mean to that girl? Was that really necessary? How would you like it if they had treated you the same way?"
To the fun and adorable teenager she would continue to push me into those situations that freaked me out and would encourage me to be a bit more talkative to the boys.
The Ghost of Christmas Present
I think this ghost would tell or show me only a handful of things. Things that if I was really honest with myself, I would already know.
- Don't live in the past - been there, done that, bought the t-shirt
- Don't dwell on things you cannot control. Situations won't happen the way you want, people will be jerks. All you can do is determine how you are going to handle it and move on
- Keep your (real) friends close and your enemies far, far away. In other words, get rid of those toxic people that don't need a place in your life. As much as you want to give them the benefit of the doubt, they just aren't going to change
- Live each day like it was your last (well for the most part!) Enjoy the sunshine, your child's laugh, your cat playfully swatting at your shoelaces, your dog giving you that pitiful puppy dog face because she wants a bite of your dinner
In my version of this story I really hope this ghost isn't as depressing and frightening as the one in the other stories. I hope people aren't enjoying holiday dinners or parties laughing at my expense or that the ghost shows me my grave!
What I do hope this ghost shows me is someone who has continued to seek out good people to have in her life. Someone who works hard and is rewarded for what she does. That she is that friend that everyone knows they can go to for anything.
She is the wife who continues to let her husband go on his adventures and continue to work on his hobbies. She is the mom to a beautiful and wonderful daughter that continues to be stubborn (no matter how many gray hairs it gives her mommy!), because that stubbornness will make her a strong individual that won't let anyone push her around.
Most of all I hope that my future self is someone that takes time for herself, and knows that even though things won't always go her way that she is special and loved and has many, many people that couldn't imagine their lives without her.
Don’t cry over the past, it’s gone. Don’t stress about the future, it hasn’t arrived. Live in the present and make it beautiful.~ Unknown
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!