Christmas Down Under

As I write this I’m perched on a balcony looking out over the roofs and treetops towards a shining blue lake – Lake Jindabyne in Australia. I decided to return to Australia for “Hot Christmas” after initially visiting in October as part of an extended post-40th-birthday trip, and the weather has not disappointed — it’s currently 28 degrees celsius (that’s 82 for you fahrenheit-ers).

Christmas Day Down Under pretty much ticked all the boxes. Went boating on the aforementioned lake, sat on the shore of an island in the lake with my feet in the water feasting on prawns, and waved at some kangaroos that were out enjoying the beach as well.

I would have never guessed at the beginning of 2024 back in Canada that I would be here in Australia for its closing, though if you told me I would have been probably pretty relieved and satisfied with that plan. 2024 started off a bit rough. But it also started off with a bit of hope, “the year of freedom, of openness.”

I decided this year I would be open to whatever came along, and I would focus on and celebrate the freedom I had (rather than the many societal markers of turning 40 I didn’t (namely, a spouse, a house, and 2.4 children.)

Freedom helped me come to terms with turning 40, and openness helped me realize just how far I’ve come and what I do have, and that I could attain that feeling of having “made it” anyway (even without those pesky societal expectations being met). I committed myself to lean into the openness to say yes to things, and to be more proactive at taking advantage of that freedom — to work remotely and travel more, for one thing.

The openness to new opportunities also led to a job advancement — from “Editor” to “Managing Editor” — as well as the chance to serve as emcee for a couple of international travel industry conferences. And I took advantage of that freedom by exploring a few places I’ve never been before (including Scandinavia, France, and Scotland), and revisiting a place I have been before — Australia — but on a new sort of adventure.

At my 40th birthday, which landed in the midst of an incredibly busy time, I added the word “ease”. And that is part of why I found the idea of an Aussie Christmas so attractive: no one has to cook a turkey, there’s no expectation of gifts or spending a fair amount of time with each faction of the family, or really even sending cards, thanks to Canada Post’s strike. Just three humans and a dog hitting the water with a cooler full of prawns, cold cut meats, veggies and fruit, and some alcoholic ginger beer (one of my favourite Australian discoveries!).

I do of course miss certain things about this season — time with friends and family, cozy cool Christmas vibes like curling up by the fireplace to watch a Christmas show, winter weather adventures like snowboarding or snowshoeing, family tradition foods and treats.

But this Christmas of ease in Australia has been a welcome respite for me, and while it has not been entirely without stresses of its own, it has helped me decompress from the busy-ness of the year in a way I didn’t know I needed.

So I hope this message will inject some ease into your holiday season, that you will find some time for stillness and rest amid the busy-ness of commitments and obligations. As they say down under, “Merry Chrissy!”