Mono no aware and the holidays

This time of year presents a paradox far too many of us (myself included) find ourselves caught up in: the desire to show up intentionally and spend limited time however and with whomever we want, and a cacophony of never-ending to-dos, holiday events, unfinished work projects, gift-buying shopping trips, and commitments we may (but probably don’t) want.

We fill calendars to the brim, squeezing every drop out of the holiday season, only to find it’s here and gone in the blink of an eye.

It’s a weird and sacred place where the joy of the season and the sadness of its quick passing often coexist. And it reminds me of a scene from a children’s movie I steer clear of because, despite knowing how it ends, I still feel heartbroken every time I watch it.