By ALICIA WOODWARD, for The Democrat
When my sisters and I were young, we loved a book called “The Sweet Smell of Christmas.” It told the story of a little bear who used his nose to fully embrace the simple pleasures of the holidays.
The book was a scratch-and-sniff — a real novelty at the time. We nearly scratched holes in the pages to release the fragrance of Little Bear’s Christmas, including an orange, apple pie, a pine branch and other comforting holiday scents.
On my daughter’s first Christmas, my sister gave her a new copy of our beloved book. I read it to her and her little brother hundreds of times, watching their tiny fingers scratch the pictures and hold the book to their button noses. Closing their eyes, they’d take a deep breath and say dreamily, “Mmm! It smells just like Christmas!”
As a mother, I realized the wisdom of Little Bear’s parents. Sensing their cub’s excitement, they went about holiday preparations in a steady, rhythmic manner, keeping Little Bear focused on the sweet simplicity of Christmas.
In all of the anticipation and build-up, Christmas Day can bring a sense of overwhelm, disappointment and anxiety in children and adults. Despite good intentions, we often turn a silent holy night into a monthlong frenzy that ends in a holly jolly meltdown.
If the big day starts to feel more hairy than merry, experts recommend we take a few deep breaths and become fully aware of our natural senses.
What do you see — a twinkling star, a simple nativity scene, a candle’s glow?
What do you hear — cheerful music, a child’s laughter, a prayer?
What do you taste — a pinch of salt, a dash of cinnamon, a spoonful of sugar?
What do you feel — a real hug, a warm fire, a kiss under the mistletoe?
What do you smell — pine from the tree, paperwhite narcissus blossoms, a fresh-cut orange?
Like childhood itself, the holiday season comes and goes in a blink of an eye. This week, let’s get real about our expectations, stay mindful, and treasure the little things. Let’s use our senses to fully embrace the simple joys of the holidays, like the sweet smell of Christmas.
Alicia Woodward and her husband are empty-nesters who live on Sweetwater Lake in Brown County. She taught middle school literature and language arts for more than 25 years and writes a weekly blog, The Simple Swan, inspired by the wisdom, beauty and simplicity of nature. Subscribe at thesimpleswan.com. She can be reached at [email protected].
