cactus with christmas decorations

All I want for Christmas… What is really important to us?


 

Even though this year it will be quite different: December is all about Christmas. Buying presents, planning menus, visiting relatives – but that’s almost water under the bridge this year. The questions that concern us today are completely different: Does Christmas happen at all? And if so, how?

Here at Humanoo, this is also a very hot topic that is discussed a lot. That’s why we decided to dedicate this month entirely to #coronaweihnachten. In the first article, we asked ourselves how much Corona influences our Christmas season and what it does to us to have to stay at a distance, especially during this time.

Today we are once again looking inward, because after all, Christmas is also a time for reflection. We want to find out what remains after all this turbulence in 2020, what has changed in us and whether the pandemic perhaps brings us a little closer to the question: What is really, really important in life?

"everything is connected" -really important

How we come to “contemplation”

Now is the time for contemplation – but let’s be honest, how contemplative have we experienced the Christmas celebrations in recent years? Instead of peace and harmony under the Christmas tree, we are dominated by stress and hectic. At work, the year-end rush is on, and after work we rush to Christmas shopping, only to order an unsatisfied gift certificate in the evening. Baking cookies is then done quickly on the morning of Christmas Day, while the rest of the family decorates the tree – and we wonder where it is, the beautiful Christmas atmosphere and the feeling of contemplation?

But what exactly constitutes this contemplation?

Basically, we associate with it a warm feeling of solemnity, tranquility, thoughtfulness and seclusion. Contemplative is also a relaxed atmosphere without hustle and bustle, which gives us the space to let those very feelings arise. Perhaps you are thinking of a place that radiates contemplation for you? This can be – especially at Christmas – a church, a place in nature or even an imaginary place, as in a meditation.

When the framework conditions are in place, we can be contemplative. But what exactly happens to us then? We come to rest and with rest come thoughts. We can go into self-reflection, i.e. dive deeper into our innermost being. What then appears before our inner eye may be questions that go beyond our everyday existence and reach deeper, such as: Am I satisfied? What do I need to feel happy? And what makes life worth living for me personally?

Even though we have certainly all experienced this state of mind at some point in our lives, it is precisely Christmas – the aforementioned reflective time – that invites us to indulge in this pensiveness completely and extensively. The reason for this is that most of the year is behind us, we have “made it” and through the holidays we can create a distance from our daily routine. We review what we have experienced and make a “line” under the year. And let’s be honest – we really want to draw a line under this year.

Is this the most “reflective” Christmas ever?

For none of us was 2020 a year like any other – because the coronavirus turned our normal lives, as we had known them until then, upside down and shook them up – both professionally and privately. We have to live with restrictions we could never have imagined and make friends with a “new normal” – between compulsory masks, social distancing and home office.

When we talk about our personal “Corona Year” here at Humanoo, everyone has their own unique story to tell: We hear about frustration over canceled celebrations, fear of being alone, being overwhelmed with home schooling, lack of motivation in the home office – and last but not least, worries about the elders in the family. You, too, will most certainly have your own personal story to tell.

What unites us is that we all look back on a lot of difficult moments. And as if the year wasn’t hard enough, after all the social distancing, we also have to stay away from our loved ones at Christmas.

The holidays and the end of the year, as much as we long for it, probably doesn’t leave us in a celebratory mood, but certainly in a reflective one. So we ask ourselves: after all we’ve been through this year, is this Christmas perhaps the most reflective “holiday” ever? Lockdown silence instead of a consumer frenzy – are we finally getting around to really reflecting?

In one hand is a string of lights. -really important

Sense or nonsense? Let’s reflect on what’s right.

The question of what is really important in life is huge. But if we take a closer look at what remains on the bottom line after 2020, we get a little closer to the answer.

Self-isolation, quarantine, lockdown – we had to get used to these concepts as much as to the oppressive feelings that these previously unknown situations raised in us. We were forced to deal more with ourselves and our emotional world – away from the daily routine that normally keeps us on our toes with enough distractions. This really didn’t feel good, but it also had an advantage: we were thrown back on what was really important and it helped us to separate the essential things in life from the non-essential ones.

It shouldn’t take a pandemic to make us realize that health is our most precious asset. But in this case it was concretely threatened – and not only our own, but also that of our loved ones – even of the whole society. The sense of threat became real – borne out of the images from the world’s hospitals and the real sense of concern for our families and friends. But what remains? We became aware once again of how valuable and fundamental it is to know ourselves and our loved ones are healthy and unharmed.

“We’re in this together” – the realization of this situation has bound us together and tied us to each other. Out of the crisis, we managed together to unleash a wave of solidarity. Whether it was shopping services, helping neighbors, or donating to local merchants, we got creative at every turn and joined together to create solutions as a community. We pulled together, offered help and took responsibility – for each other and with each other.

Being connected with each other – that also worked with distance. The restriction of contact forced us to decide which close circle of family and friends we could see. A challenging task – as was the commandment not to meet the elders in the family for an indefinite period. But with and especially through the oppressive feelings, we got creative – whether it was video calling grandparents, long walks with friends or Zoom dinners with colleagues, we practiced making the best of the circumstance. And so suddenly even the small encounters felt more meaningful, like they used to.

Even though Corona has taken a lot from us, at the same time it has given us the chance to gain something new: More flexibility to adapt to the ever-changing situations and make the best of them.

More serenity, in the face of all the challenges, large and small, that this pandemic has presented us with.

More gratitude for what we thought we took for granted.

More awareness of the small, beautiful things that we too easily overlook in the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

And maybe a little more “reflection”, on what we really need to live a happy, fulfilled life – because it’s really not that much.

And now for you: What is important to you?

Now we invite you to take our thoughts with you and review your personal 2020. Take the time to consciously listen to yourself and don’t be afraid to let unpleasant memories and feelings come up – because only if we look very closely and dare to really “feel inside”, we strengthen ourselves and can start the new year with new power and mindfulness.

We are curious to hear how you fared and what you can personally reflect on.

Would you like us to accompany you? Our “Inner peace through meditation” program in our app will help you find your center and turn your gaze inward. Check out our Daily Tips for a daily dose of well-being and tips to help you finish the year.

In this sense: Make this Christmas the most contemplative ever for you!

Your Humanoo Team