Now the serious trees are going up

This is simply the best Christmas tree.  It is outside Terminal 21 which is a shopping centre in central Bangkok aimed at the young and wealthy.  This city is presently being filled with glorious Christmas trees, colourful decorations, bright lights and catchy music of the season.  So when I go to my supermarket, I find myself starting to hum along to the tune of "Winter Wonderland" being played on their sound system.  I just love it. 

Yet it is all so surreal for I have to remember that I am in a land in the tropics where the mass of people are not Christian and have no idea what Christmas is about.  Still they all love the trappings and the shopping.  The children love seeing the trees and the decorations.  You can see it in their faces.  Maybe that is the same everywhere, even in Australia. 

Today it is four weeks until Christmas Day.  Now is the lead up to the big day and it is the build up that I so love as it is one time of the year when you can be sure to feel good and have a sense of oneness with humanity.  At least, that is me, even here in Thailand where most around me are ignorant of the reason for my more peaceful inner state of being. 

How I experience this time of year is tied up with my family and how I was brought up.  Christmas was at the centre of our family tradition as it was huge every year with mum and dad.  I am thankful for that as I am ever thankful for mum and dad in all things and for all they gave us. 

It is good to remember this as it is my birthday this week and it is a natural time for me to reflect on my life.   I have been given so much by many good and kind people.  This is my time to be thankful and spread some cheer.  Why not do this all year round and make this my typical life stance?  This could be my birthday gift to my world of which these wonderful trees at Christmastime become a symbol everywhere and every day of my feeling good and of my being at one with my world and humanity.