"It's a Christmas Miracle..."

"Even a happy life cannot be without a measure of darkness, and the word happy would lose its meaning if it were not balanced by sadness. It is far better take things as they come along with patience and equanimity."  -  Carl Jung

I am a pretty introspective when forced to be so as Christmas approaches I began to think of all the miracles that have come my way within the past year.  So although I am terrible at making lists and well, checking them, here at least is a partial list of miracles...such as they are:

It's a Christmas miracle that...

• I have not been involved in a car accident considering that using blinkers seems to be a thing of the past.
• I have figured out how to effectively block my cell phone from the endless number of unwanted "robo-phone" calls.  
• I can stay up till nine p.m., most nights...even earlier!!
• I still feel empowered to put makeup on in the morning.  
• I haven't dragged a student by their ear lobe to the assistant principal the week before winter break.  That would be a no-no and I would be on the "naughty list" indefinitely.  Don't judge.
• I have each and every time, reached the box of chic pea pasta at Shop Rite which has notoriously been stacked on the absolute TOP shelf of the aisle.  Don't ask how but swatting it down with my purse has worked pretty effectively.  Don't try this in the milk aisle though...
• My two adorable kitties haven't fallen into the tub, trying to grab the bubbles and my feet, while I'm in it.  I'm never alone.  I am grateful.
• I have kept the 30 pounds I lost off!!! 
• I have after almost three years NOT smoked one cigarette!  Believe me, I have wanted to smoke on more than one occasion but the suffering and the trauma that goes along with quitting remains in the forefront of my mind and I don't.  I just don't go there.
• We are not in a civil war.  
• I have the friends I have, some for 30 plus years.  We don't get to see each other nearly as much as I would like but life takes over and you all need to know, not a day goes by that I don't think of you.
• My family looks out for each other.  We have arisen.  We are who we are and there is acceptance.
• My husband and I kiss each other each and every morning before I leave for work and when I get home despite the fact that I pick up his boxers off the bathroom floor each and every day.   I love him.  Always will.  Love happens when you are not looking. Marriage with the right person is indeed a Christmas miracle, even through the hardest times.

So all, Christmas is right around the corner and in the midst of all the pressures and yes, ugliness of life, there are miracles.  We may have to look hard for them.  Some drop right in front of us and take us by surprise.  The surprises are the best right? I hope there are many in store for all of you.