December, to me, is the most romantic month of the year.

I love the holiday season. I feel a boundless awakening mixed with emotional wonderment. The spirit of giving and family togetherness makes my heart sing. I truly love Christmas—the joy it brings through family gatherings, gift exchanges, and festive food is unmatched. The enjoyment of gift giving fits the times. Looking for the perfect gift for a loved one, feeling the excitement when I finally find it and then tucking it away until the moment I present it to that someone I love.

December is also the perfect time to teach the value of giving to children and grandchildren; that giving a gift is more important and heartfelt than getting a gift. The fun of wrapping gifts, visiting Christmas tree farms, and watching Christmas movies adds to the festive spirit and makes December traditions even more special.

Introduction to the Holiday Season

There is something truly magical about the holiday season, a time when December shines as my most favorite month of the year. As the days grow shorter and the air turns crisp, a boundless awakening mixed with emotional wonderment fills my heart. December is extra special for so many reasons—it’s my birthday month, my wedding anniversary, and the perfect time to celebrate the romantic adventure I share with my darling husband, Sheldon Good. The whole month feels like a wonderful way to reflect on life’s beautiful thoughts and to finally find those moments of joy that make the year complete.

Everywhere I look, I notice young and old walking arm in arm, their faces aglow sparkling with happiness as they carry brightly colored packages filled with loving gifts. The beautiful storefront shops in my beloved Chicago are dressed in their holiday best, inviting us in for a cup of hot chocolate or a glimpse of the perfect gift. The ringing bells of the Salvation Army echo through the streets, mingling with the sound of Santa Claus chuckling and the laughter of little girls and boys. Festivity fills the air, and family togetherness makes every gathering feel like a great ride through the most romantic month of the year.

The religious part of the holidays is woven into the fabric of December—church bells ringing, children singing, and beautiful wreaths adorning church doors. These moments remind me of the hope and love that December romances into our hearts, making it a time of emotional wonderment and a utopian outlook for the new year ahead. Whether it’s sharing family time, searching for that perfect gift, or simply pausing to admire the twinkling stars above beautiful Chicago, December fits hand in glove with the spirit of the holiday season.

As the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve, I am filled with gratitude for the memories made, the love shared, and the promise of another year. December is not just a month of the year—it is a celebration of life, hope, and the extra special moments that make our hearts sing. It is, without a doubt, my favorite month, and I love December for all the ways it brings us together in joy, reflection, and anticipation of the wonderful things yet to come.

The magic of the holiday season in December

I live in a condominium with my husband, Shelly, and our dog, America, on the 71st floor overlooking ‘my beautiful Chicago’. I do not live in Chicago year-round and yet, in December, I often return. When I leave my building, I am surrounded by breathtaking tree-lined streets with lights all aglow sparkling like twinkling stars. Festivity fills the air.

I notice young and old walking arm-in-arm, laughing with friends and family, and carrying brightly colored packages filled with loving gifts. I hear the ringing bells of the Salvation Army, the sounds of Santa Claus chuckling with little ones. I am wide-eyed when I look into the beautiful storefront shops, with a multitude of decorative items. I feel so joyful, I begin to speed up my gait as I chart my course through the maze of happiness. December is the most romantic month of my year.

December is a month of love

I love the religious part of the holidays. I notice the beautiful wreaths on the church doors; I listen to the church bells ringing and children singing; I see Christmas trees and, earlier this month, Menorahs, brightly lit and aglow. I am sure, by now, you can understand why I think December is the most romantic month of the year.

But, there is more: Shelly and I celebrate our wedding anniversary each December. I chose the month because December romances me.

December and I fit hand-in-glove because I am a romantic in every sense of the word: I am passionate about everything.

I am over the top sentimental. My mind thrives on beautiful thoughts and beautiful things! I am a cockeyed optimist. I am most impractical with romantic notions on just about every subject. And quite frankly, I think it is a wonderful way to be. As my darling husband says, “my wife has a utopian outlook on life, but she is anything but dumb!” And I say, “It is lovely to be starry-eyed, yet grounded.” Can you relate?

As a reminisce about the glorious — with hills and valleys, of course —  twenty-five years plus years of my romantic adventure as the wife of Sheldon Good, I am full of gratitude. It has been a great ride… and the adventure continues.

If all my wishes could come true, I would wish I could go back and re-live every day since we first met. I know I cannot and tears well up in my eyes as more than a quarter century of memories flash and flood my mind and heart. I think of the love and adoration, the excitement, the learnings, and yes, even the tragedies, we have lived through as husband and wife, and as best friends.

The best things about December

Even this small-town Jewish girl from Kankakee by the Sea can appreciate the world’s fascination with December. It’s a glorious month! Here are just a few reasons that I love December. I would love to know what yours are!

1. Ice skating by the Bean in Chicago, aka Cloud Gate.
2. Hot Chocolate at Ghiradelli, just steps from my home in the clouds in Chicago.
3. My wedding anniversary, of course.
4. Holiday parties and visiting family + friends… I love to entertain!
5. The sense of kindness that overtakes people this time of year.
6. Time spent with family and friends.
7. Christmas cookies and Sweet Rugelach.
8. Shopping for gifts for the people that matter to me.
9. Parties and the many excuses to dress up.
10. New Year’s Eve celebrations—there’s something magical about the anticipation, reflection, and excitement of year’s eve. It’s a time for joyful gatherings, setting new goals, and welcoming new beginnings as we celebrate the transition into a fresh year.
11. The hope, joy, and optimism that comes with the dawn of a New Year.

What do you love most about this time of year? Please share your thoughts with me via Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram or in the comments section below.

 

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