The List
Someone asked me on Sunday how I was doing with Christmas—
with the list,
with the cooking and the shopping and the cleaning and the decorating—
how I was doing with this ‘whole thing.’
And I said I was doing just fine.
Candles in every window, tree up, and lights lit.
December photo with Santa taken, and duly presented to my husband—
his annual chronicle of me—my clothing, my hair, my face.
Plans made, trip back home to visit family and friends, confirmed.
And so yes, I am finished,
Christmas list, complete.
And I thought to myself how wonderful it would be if everyone’s list
could be like mine—
that we could get off the Target train,
off the Kohl’s car,
and step not even one foot near the Wallmart wagon.
How wonderful it would be.
Simply wanting, and choosing, to feel good in our bodies,
Alive and fluid and free,
Wanting and choosing to be present, here and now, for our families,
for our loved ones, for our friends.
Wanting and choosing to wake up to our lives
in this moment, in every moment, and not just under some tree.
How am I doing with Christmas? With this ‘whole thing’?
I’m doing just fine.
Breathing in, breathing out,
Body flowing, spirit soaring. Easy and fine and free.
Chris Warner
December 2010
