We all take for granted everyday magic.

When we’re children, we know magic exists. Somehow as we grow - like so many old fairy tales warn - we lose our connection with the magic that is ever-present…unless we make a conscious choice to cultivate it in our lives.

Everywhere I turn, I read about how loneliness is becoming an epidemic. But, what does it truly mean to be alone? How is it different than solitude? How can we foster more connectedness in real life in our world?

I write this as I ponder the effect of what a box of homemade cookies, white chocolate Chex, and chocolates had on our neighbors recently…

For at least one weekend during December, we have a cookie decorating day. Bodhi cannot wait to decorate gingerbread cookies (he’s a bit heavy-handed with the sprinkles), Uma just wants to eat everything, and I am filled with memories of doing the same thing with my Aunt and brother so many years ago.

Before we paint a picture of holiday bliss…let’s be real and say that the kitchen becomes covered with flour, there is never enough counterspace, the dog is trying to sneak the dough, and sprinkles/glitter are crusted in every corner. It is stressful and beautiful and chaotic and my pelvis is screaming from being on my feet for hours at 20 weeks pregnant.

Bodhi really wanted to deliver the cookies to some neighborhood friends and their families, which is what we normally do…but Eugene and I looked at each other with a similar knowing. How about we deliver cookies to the neighbors around us on our street? To Mr. Mort who had a fall a few weeks ago? To Mr. Ken who lives alone? To Ms. Cathy who had knee surgery? To our neighbors next door who just got married and the one next to them with the giant St. Bernard?

When Bodhi rang their doorbells (yes, unannounced! you can do it, too!), each conversation transformed into much more than a quick exchange.

Mr. Mort shared that he was in the hospital for three weeks after his fall. He’s 85 and cracked a few ribs. And, now his wife is in the hospital, so he’s alone for the holidays. Mr. Ken shared that his wife died a few years ago, and he hasn’t received one Christmas gift since then. Not one. Ms. Cathy shared that her knee surgery recovery actually isn’t going well, she hasn’t been out as much, and she was so happy to connect with us again (we usually see her on walks in the neighborhood with her dog).

Connection.

Christmas and the holidays can be hard on so many. Personally, we live 8-10 hours away from our nearest family members. The commercialism drives me batty, and I’m constantly worrying if we’re teaching our children the true meaning of this season which is the celebration of light (rather than solely what they will get from Santa even though we love the Santa story, too…). You feel all of this, right?

That day, though, something landed in our hearts.

We take for granted full houses and sticky counters and presents coming in from family for the children. And, here are our neighbors who crave human connection, even if they also enjoy their solitude. Loneliness and solitude are no the same thing.

We all ache for community, for connection, for everyday magic.

And, it’s up to us to create it. We must do that within and without.

We step outside our comfort zones, knock on doors, ring doorbells, slow down to the pace of our children who just want to help light candles and make dough.

We attune and align with magic, with the beautiful, with the unseen.

Real magic is not manufactured. It cannot be made in an IG reel or a quippy post. It cannot be solely performed behind a screen.

Real magic is learning how to be in the world and to abide in the loving arms of presence. We all want to be witnessed, and in witnessing others in real life…that will happen. The Vedic wisdoms say so. Perhaps experiment for yourself to see if it’s true!

May your heart be filled with the blessings of this season: Rest, the revealing of the inner light, the literal and metaphorical return of the Sun/Son/Divine. May you be surrounded by the love of your ancestors, your family, your neighbors, your friends. May we truly see and witness each other, so that we may more fully witness ourselves. May we simply be.

Jai Ma.
With love,
Leanne

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