December Reflections
Since December 2014, I have taken part in Susannah Conway's free Instagram challenge December Reflections posting a photo a day for the whole month based on prompts she gives out around the end of November. Some years I've been more successful than others in posting but where I work, December is one of our busiest months and as a consequence sometimes the month gets away from me and I don't always end up posting as much as I'd like.
It's completely optional to post every day and you don't even have to use the words that she provides but with prompts as; sparkle, I said goodbye to... delicious, the best day of [that year], a favourite photo of [that year] and I let go of... it's tempting to want to post as often as possible. But you can share as much or as little as you like.
It's a sharable record of the year you've had and a chance to visually share your win's, losses and your goals for the upcoming year. Alongside reflecting on your accomplishments and areas where you aim to improve in the forthcoming year.
I try and get as many posts done and scheduled ahead of time, the same as I normally do the rest of the year, but I also try and include more Christmas related photos where I can. This means that some photos are only able to take once I've decorated for Christmas, which is on my day off that's closest to December 1st.
This year I will still be in the UK's second lockdown when December starts and so I'll be able to put the decorations up on December 1st. I've already given the kitchen and living room a deep clean in preparation for Christmas and I have also cleared some decor items I'm wanting a change from. I very rarely change up the general decor and it's been looking the same for the last few years, and I thought that as I was cleaning I may as well clear away some things as well. This makes more room for the decorations which don't have to compete with the day-to-day decor and also means I have the opportunity to decorate a bit differently this year.
I've already got some new Christmas decor for the kitchen which I don't tend to decorate as I'm not home for a couple of days around those days. This year, however, due to Covid our Christmas will look very different. My mum is on the vulnerable list and has been told to stay home and because I work in retail we decided that I wouldn't see her until it's completely safe for me to do so.
We've missed each other obviously but we think one year of not seeing each other is a good trade-off for being able to meet up for many years to come. My brother and I are planning a virtual Christmas Eve when we usually play a board game, and also to spend a bit of Christmas day opening some presents together virtually. It won't be the same but we think it's worth it to keep our mum safe and healthy at this time.
Because I'll be in my own home for Christmas this year, I've already got a few new decor pieces to make it nicer for me over those few days. I've bought a small Christmas wreath, decorated it with some LED lights and also got a candle and pillar candle holder for the centre. My first ever table centrepiece for my own home! I remembered that I had some Christmas fabrics and so I cut some lengths of the fabric to layer as a table runner.
If you'd like to join in please do so, remember, there's no pressure to post, it’s completely free and if you don't feel up to posting, that's completely okay as well. Use the #decemberreflections2020 if you do join us or feel free to just look at what others are posting.
