It is Christmas Eve already! I can’t believe it. I wanted to write you a quick note to say Merry Merry Merry Christmas before I head out for the day of getting ready for my family dinner. Whatever you might celebrate, I wish you and your family a sincere Happy Holidays.
Truthfully dear readers, this holiday season has been a bit of challenge for me due to some personal matters – a broken heart. In spite of my own personal anguish (which I will survive), I had decided though at the beginning of the season to continue on and to try to spread as much love and joy and good cheer as possible.
I am proud to say that COCOCOZY had the honor of donating a large number of COCOCOZY pillows to families in need from one of my favorite charities in Los Angeles called A Place Called Home. My COCOCOZY elf DS and I spent a morning last weekend handing out pillows to moms who needed some good cheer and handing out toys to kids whose eyes were twinkling with the hope of Christmas. We got to the event early and were told there was a line of thousands of people outside. When we left after our shift, we drove around the block and there were at least a few thousand people lined up waiting for their chance at Christmas. I was filled with emotion as I thought of what Christmas must mean to these kids and moms and dads…as they started lining up at midnight to attend the event that included snow, face painting, gifts and Santa himself. The moms were particularly surprised when this year they got a present from COCOCOZY. I felt proud to do my part in spreading some joy.
Then there is my annual family holiday Christmas Eve dinner. This year I contemplated not doing it. A little over a week ago, I knew it was not my calling to give up on Christmas. Christmas was my Grandmother’s favorite holiday and she always brought the family together. I knew I wanted to carry on her tradition like I had in years past. So I wrote to my extended family and asked them to come join for a loving happy Christmas. All responded yes!
This is the first year I think I really realized what Christmas is about. It is about love. That is it. I have been so emotionally exposed, my sensitive side is on such full drive that I have paused and noticed actually how much love and kindness people are expressing during the holiday season – friends, family and strangers…all who I am seeing have holiday love in their eyes and caring in their voices. From my sweet COCOCOZY elves DS and VS who have been there keeping COCOCOZY going and took their time to stuff all of the pillows we gave away and who are getting up early before work to pack orders and shipments, to my best of friends AM and FF and AT who have been on the phone with me constantly, to my mom and my sis (my sis has been at my house every weekend morning with a cup of tea for me for the last 6 weeks), to my dear neighbor who secretly put up my first outdoor Christmas lights for me because he wanted to me to be happy this holiday, to my friends BN and SN who keep having me over for dinner and drinks just because, to all of the people and strangers who have said “Happy Holidays” and have really meant it, even to the cashier at the grocery store yesterday who took an extra minute to ask about my holiday dinner with warmth in his eyes. This year I am noticing Christmas. I am noticing the love.
One last thing to note…I understand that I am not the center of the world and that people are going through so much more than I am. I pray for those who are suffering…pray for healing and some glimmer of love, hope and joy for them.
Anyhooo…must run…lots of errands. The picture below is the actual table I began setting last night and then the picture below that is ME! I don’t show photos here on COCOCOZY of me that often…but it is Christmas…so why not?! (please note, most bloggers post glamorous shots, this one is of DS and I at 7a on a cold Saturday morning with no makeup or fancy clothes…but just happy and honored to be helping out…so please excuse the lack of glamour and good looks!)
Wishing you a Merry Christmas and much holiday love.
Merry Christmas!
xo
Coco
Dear Coco! Cheers to you for your generous spirit in reaching out to others struggling at Christmas. While it’s never what we wish for, a broken heart can be the gateway to even greater things in life, including love that truly meets and fits you. In my work life, I am a writer, but in my heart, I am design obsessed! Thank you for sharing your gifts all year-round. Wishing you gentle healing and many blessings to come! _ Monique
Thank you Monique! Very nice words.
oh coco
i have noticed that you are on your own again….
trust me when i tell you that broken hearts mend and beautiful days ahead.
following you for years and so proud of your accomplishments!
wishing you light and love,
paula
Ya got me, Coco. My eyes are swelled up with tears from reading your beautiful note. You truly did find your ‘right self” for Christmas this year, you little angel. I’ve always believed in the old adage ‘Out of all bad, comes good.’ You shined with it this season.
Merry Christmas.
Arlene
Arlene,
Merry Christmas to you and your husband in Idaho. Feel very thankful to have had you following along for the ride over the last year. Just ran into architect Tom Newman who had that plaid floor! I thought of you.
Xo
Coco
Well you tell Tom that I think of the both of you every single day when I look at my adorable floor. The compliments never stop when visitors see it. And after all of these years, it looks brand new. So he was spot on the materials used, too.
Happy New Year, Coco.
Arlene
Such a beautiful sentiment. I’m sorry you have had a difficult start to the holidays but very roof of you for how you have responded. Much love to you in the New Year! I’ll say to you what my friend Pam always says…. Next!!!! No just kidding but I do believe that when something falls apart it always comes together more perfectly. The best is yet to come!
Oxoxox Lisa Mende
Thank you Lisa! Appreciate the kind words! Xo Coco
XXOO! Lots of love to you! Merry Christmas ; )
Dear Coco
short of losing a beloved family member or a pet, there is nothing so gut wrenching as a broken heart. I’m so sorry…but as others have already said..out of pain and anguish can come the most beautiful future, and true love will blossom again. As they say -When one door closes, another one opens — but it can be hell in the hallway!
Stay close to your family and friends..they will be your rocks of strength and joy. And we are all so truly blessed and lucky to have roofs over our heads.
Have a wonderful New Year
All the best
Louise
Louise, I hope you are having a great end of the year. So nice to hear from people who have been following along. Thank you for the words of encouragement. You are very nice. Wishing you a very happy New Year! Xo Coco
I can’t help but think of the Japanese art of kintsukuroi. It is an ancient tradition of using melted gold to mend the cracks in broken pottery. The beautiful gold “cracks” then make the piece even more special. I have a feeling this broken moment might also make the final piece of art (your life in its entirety) even more beautiful in the long run. Remember that all things heal with time! Happy new year!
Just reading this this morning and feeling sad for you but also proud of you for soldiering through and finding the joy in spite of your pain. I could not say it better than Monique did…..I wish you all the best but especially that your time in the “hallway” is brief…..I think it was Emerson who said “when half-gods go, the gods come…..have faith, sweet one.
Hey Coco,
Just wanted to say, hang in there and keep putting one foot in front of the other…
xx Kate
C,
Happy Holidays! I know this year has been a challenge. We are all here rooting for you and wishing you and your family all the best for 2016.
Cheers,
Colony
Coco,
I have been reading your blog for years and have never commented but your sentiments prompted me to wish you happy holidays and a very Happy New Year! You are such a source of inspiration and joy for so many and I know if I could be there alongside your sister with that cup of tea every morning, I would. Thank you for sharing your positive energy and creativity with us. I can’t wait to see what you have in store for us in 2016!
Ellie