DesertEyes

Every holiday since I found sanity and serenity in al-anon I have my own tradition. No booze, no crazy family, just me and my HP. I make a little butterfly, or sometimes buy one if I find one I like, and hang it on my tree as an ornament. The butterfly is the symbol of al-anon, it reminds me of how my world ended when my marriage of 20 years vanished into addiction.

Now I have a completely different life that I never imagined could even exist.

So here's my tree ( on the right ), with this year's butterfly on the upper right.

Mike
p.s. I know, there should be more butterflies, but I keep inviting newbies over, and they love my butterflies, so I end up giving the away

DesertEyes

Here's a closeup of the butterfly

Mike

lillamy

I think that creating new traditions to replace old ones is important -- I have, too, although mine mostly have to do with food...

Thank you for sharing your butterfly tree!

Seren

That's a beautiful idea, Mike. I like your butterfly! Thank you for sharing the picture!!

Tuffgirl

I am thrilled to not have family drama this season. The drama-makers are out of my life right now (some by their choice, some by mine).

And its nice to go back to my traditions with my girls; new pj's Xmas eve, fancy Xmas morning breakfast with a mimosa in the fine china! All the decorations are out this year, even though the Xmas tree is blocked in by furniture so the dogs don't destroy anything!

Thanks for sharing this with us, Mike. Its a great reminder of the power of choice.

cr995

I now absolutely hate xmas. As a child I loved it and have fond memories of helping my mother with the tree. But after I got married it just became a time of huge disappointment and a time for AH to be really horrid to me. He used to take our kids to his mums and leave me alone at home (by making sure I was not welcome there). Then he would drive them home drunk. Presents would arrive from his mum usually for everyone except me and I just used to feel so hurt.

This will be the first year that I am actually going to have a calm xmas. I refused to put up a tree cos it reminds me of all that stuff. But I am going to spend this xmas with my brother and his family, my dad and my daughter and son in law will come for a day. In other words we'll all be together at some stage apart from STBXAH!

I am still waiting to see what happens because I don't believe nothing horrid will happen.

Kassie2

THanks for sharing Mike,

I have spent many years feeling alone at Christmas... this year I can finally embrase the day for myself. I don't have a plan even tho' it is only a day away... but I am ok that I will figure it out.

Peace be with you.