#345 When the Christmas tree gives the only light in the room

Neil Pasricha

Turn out the lights.

Pull the curtains open and watch as jumbo snowflakes drift past the window, snow-covered kids walk by dragging sleds, and winter winds whisper through the evergreens. Smell the turkey crisping in the oven, listen to scratchy carols spinning in your head, and hear footsteps from the family slowly come together in front of the sparkling tree…

Swipe your daughter’s bangs as she lies in your lap, smile at grandpa sipping eggnog on the ottoman, or cuddle up with your cousins in a pile of cozy blankets and comfy sweats on the couch.

Sip that crystal glass of eggnog, sniff the pine of the tree, and relax and share a quiet moment of bliss with someone touching your hands … or your heart.

AWESOME!

Happy holidays, everybody.

Photo from: here

40 thoughts to “#345 When the Christmas tree gives the only light in the room”

  1. I love this! I love it SO SO SO much! I wish I had something more intelligent to say on the subject, but I don’t. I just love it.

    For the duration of Christmas-light-season, I almost always do things completely by tree-light. Like, things I should probably turn real lights on for, such as eating, grading papers, cleaning, etc. I just can’t bear to ruin the gorgeous ambiance with lamp light!

    Loved all the Christmas posts … very awesome touch. :)

  4. I LOVE this post. And it is so true. I will remember this tonight and tomorrow. I often look in the room where our tree is and it is the only light providing in the room. I may sit in that room tonight and admire. Christmas tree’s bring so much happiness!

  5. This hits home. My mom and I used to wake up before everyone on Christmas morning and just sit in front of the tree, not saying a word, and enjoying each other’s company. It’s one of my favourite childhood memories still. :)

  7. I LOVE this one!!!

    This reminds me, my dad goes a little crazy with the lights every year, so we have a bunch on the outside, and we have them on the inside too. However, it is only on the railing and on our 2 christmas trees inside. My FAVORITE part of getting ready for christmas is hanging up the lights on the banister with some garland, and JUST seeing that light when it is pitch black…

    In fact, I wrote a poem about it earlier that I would like to share…

    Sometimes I sit in pure darkness, in the dead of the night.
    I see the decorations hugging the wooden banister in light.
    Thoughts travel my mind, wandering their way through,
    and I see that the meaning of christmas is still true.
    For on that day our light was born.
    A crown of purity he did adorn.
    He saved our souls in the dark world full of sin.
    He brought joy to our hearts within.
    Now I know why I see what I see.
    My saviour was born that christmas eve.
    He stands as an example in my sight,
    and he is what I think of christmas night.

  9. That was so perfect – it just made me nearly cry with happiness :) I had a hard time getting into the season this year…and I think part of it may be because I didn’t get to experience this yet this Season…Maybe I will talk my love into snuggling by the tree with me late tonight…

    Thanks so much! And Merry Christmas! And thanks for sharing this blog all year long…

  11. I totally adore when I check this every morning, and you have written about something I absolutely celebrate every day. Your book is all about how people make their own happiness from the simple pleasures in life. I revel in sitting up in the middle of the night on Christmas Eve, watching the lights on the tree twinkle, the only light, but a strong, warm light. A light that makes me thankful I am alive and able to enjoy everything life has to offer, good and bad. Thanks for writing this book and creating this website! It, in itself, is one of the awesome things of my day. There, my mushy stuff for the year.

  12. Merry Christmas! Thank you for this website and your book, you have brought a lot of positivity to my year and I am grateful for the day that I came upon this site and began my daily ritual of my morning dose of awesome. Best wishes for the new year and the rest of the list :)

  13. Thanks for posting this! It’s absolutely true, one of the best things about the Christmas season is setting up camp under the glow of the tree. I remember many a night as a kid, squinting hard to play my Gameboy by the soft golden light. Probably why I wear glasses today.

    Merry Christmas!

  14. This is one of my grown son’s favorite things about the Christmas season, so when he comes home for a visit, I make sure the trees are ready, the house is decorated, and the pine-scented candle is burning upon his arrival. I love welcoming him home this way.

  15. Auggh, I just remembered, no posts on saturdays…no christmas post. =( Oh well, I just want to say that my Christmas was AWESOME!!! and Merry Christmas everyone!!!

  19. Sitting quietly in the dark living room, basking in the warm glow of only the Christmas tree is my favorite part of the holiday.

    Merry Christmas, Neil. Much love.

  20. Neil,

    One of the things I unwrapped on Christmas Morning was “The Book of Awesome”! I am thrilled to read through everything you’ve written in there.

    Merry Christmas!
    ~M

  21. Ok, yes…I do love the glow of the Christmas tree. We’ve sat many nights playing board games just from the light gleaming off the tree. But me and my paranoia won’t let me enjoy it for long. The tree MUST be off before we head to bed. The thought of that thing catching fire is always in the back of my mind. When hubby left to go hunting for a few days, I unplugged it.

    1. Oh good. Glad to hear I’m not the only one. On my way home the other day, I drove past a house with thick black smoke billowing out of it and the fire dept. was just starting to arrive. I don’t know if a Christmas tree was to blame, but I felt so sad seeing someone’s house burning down right before Christmas. There’s always something like that image in the back of my mind when I turn on my Christmas lights.

  22. It’s absolutely true, one of the best things about the Christmas season is setting up camp under the glow of the tree. I remember many a night as a kid, squinting hard to play my Gameboy by the soft golden light.

  25. Only improved upon by the flickering light of a warm fire across the room. Better bookends simply do not exist!

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  31. I LOVE Christmas time!!! It’s my favorite holiday in the whole world!!! Merry Christmas everybody.

  32. An incredible time Saturday night. We surprised my parents and they were thriled when they got there..Thank you! I used to be told by the photo booth person that images would be online. Where are they?

  33. Thank you for the good writeup. It actually was a leisure account it. Glance complicated to more delivered agreeable from you! However, how can we keep in touch?

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