I have always enjoyed the celebration of Easter.  I understand and appreciate the religious significance and have always felt very spiritual on this day.  I am sorry that many of the other traditions associated with the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ have gone by the wayside in recent years.  But I do enjoy the fun of the Easter egg hunts, the awesome floral displays provided by nature and the special meals associated with this beautiful holiday that is celebrated in the glory of a most gorgeous spring day.

Last year, I was not able to celebrate Easter.  Although it was not on the same weekend, Kirk and I found ourselves on a plane to Florida in order to attend my brother’s funeral.  He had died unexpectedly earlier in the week in surgery and we were all walking around in a state of shock.  I suppose Easter will always hold those memories but I definitely have incorporated all of my family’s traditions into the celebration again this year.

I suppose what I love most about the holiday is the way that it is celebrated with family and friends.  It is so nice to see everyone getting dressed up in their best finery and going to church together.  I love the joy of the children hunting for the hidden candies and the delight when they locate them.  I love the fun that we all have while rolling the hard boiled eggs to see who has the winner from the nest.  I really enjoy preparing the meal where we all sit down together and share lots of good conversation.  But, most of all, it is the togetherness that reigns supreme.

I hear so many people talk about how they wish that the spirit of the holidays would remain all year around.  The interesting thing is that if you gather your family and friends near you and keep them there, you have that same sense of happiness and holiday all of the time.  In these days and times, it seems that everyone is so very busy that they can’t seem to sit down together for a meal or plan some time to spend with one another.  They are missing out on the important things in life.  If you must work long hours, it is not only important to you but also to your family to give them some dedicated time.  It may be only 10 or 15 minutes but not only do you have a moment to wind down but also they know how important they are to you if you make them feel special in this way.

If possible, share at least one meal a day with your family and/or friends.  It gives you time to sit back and relax and talk and laugh rather than plopping yourself down in front of the TV or computer and not even being able to enjoy your meal.  If you can go out on a porch or patio and enjoy the sunshine and beauty around you, this can vastly improve your experience.  If you are all alone, then prepare something really special for yourself and light some candles and turn on the music and sit back and relax.  You work hard and you deserve to treat yourself in a way that rewards your efforts.

No matter what you choose to do, you will be so much happier and alive if you include the spirit of a holiday into each day of your life.  Put a smile on your face, picture a cute bunny in your mind and send out tons of happy greetings to every person that you meet along the way.  If that is your focus, you can count on your day being so much brighter.