![\"Dec2013XmasOrnament\"](\"https:\/\/carolynhidalgo.com\/\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/12\/photo.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nOur Christmas tree is filled with memories<\/strong> – ornaments of places we’ve visited, some are gifts given by loved ones, and past photos remind how quickly time flies – one above was taken 4 years ago that seemed like yesterday. There is a story unfolding each year about your life, and how you are choosing to live it based on what\u00a0you believe<\/strong>…<\/p>\n “Do you see what I see? A Star a star dancing in the night\u2026<\/em><\/strong> I didn\u2019t believe<\/strong> growing up going to Sunday school, attending morning chapel in high school, getting married in a church, being baptized, confirmed, even baptizing our 3 children. It was just a story<\/strong> about an idea that sounded nice – a “good” tradition to follow.<\/p>\n God, the Universe, something Divine<\/strong> greater than me, larger than all of us, beyond the Stars? These were ancient myths about a concept I could not bring into my reality<\/strong> growing up in a scientific, practical<\/strong> world where having an education that brought financial independence<\/strong> was most important. Getting married, having healthy children, being kind, working hard, and living happily ever<\/strong> after<\/strong> was the plan. I achieved “it” – even the happiness<\/strong> part, but something deeper was missing<\/strong>.<\/p>\n The miracle we received that represents Christ Consciousness<\/strong> I celebrated year after year was not meaningful<\/strong>. Christmas was a beautiful time spent with family & friends, but I couldn\u2019t see, hear, or feel “it” the way I do today. My outer world “worked” so what was I longing<\/strong> for? Who am I? Why am I here? Why was there so much suffering<\/strong> in a world filled with such material\u00a0abundance<\/strong>, and technological advancement<\/strong>?<\/p>\n \u201cFaith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.\u201d ~Hebrews 11:1<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Faith<\/strong> to begin following my\u00a0heart<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0was not easy – the ride to put it mildly hasn’t been smooth, but has been worth every moment for I found the “it” that eluded me. My\u00a0head<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0kept reminding me of what I\u00a0should<\/em><\/strong> do. But my heart<\/strong> led me to my own truth<\/strong>, to people<\/strong>, and experiences<\/strong> that resonated<\/strong>, and illuminated<\/strong> what others cannot see<\/strong>, or hear<\/strong> until they began following their heart<\/strong>. They needed first to\u00a0believe<\/strong><\/em>. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n There is a strange<\/strong> need to\u00a0complain\u00a0<\/strong>with a focus on what’s wrong<\/strong>, instead of what’s right<\/strong>. To share drama<\/strong>, and gossip <\/strong>especially it seems over the holidays when everyone comes together in spaces we don’t necessarily want to be. We will be sad<\/strong> for the ones no longer here, for the real struggle, and pain, but more joyful<\/strong> for the moments we now<\/strong> have because underneath is a faithful\u00a0knowing<\/strong> that everything changes, and what’s real is everlasting<\/strong>.<\/p>\n We can create an energy of stress, difficulty, blame, where everyone else is at fault including ourselves instead of being open to<\/strong>, and\u00a0believing<\/strong> what can be changed from within<\/strong>. Sometimes all we need to do is ask<\/strong> for guidance, let go, and trust<\/strong> – but we grew up, and stopped believing in Santa (Angels), and the Spirit that is Christ(mas).<\/p>\n I was skeptical, logical, practical, trying to fix people with solutions, and afraid<\/strong> to step into being me<\/strong> without needing to meet other people’s expectations<\/strong>. Some days I still struggle, but I notice as I practice letting go of my inner critic & judge\u00a0<\/strong>what appeared to make sense<\/strong> eventually was overridden by trusting my\u00a0intuition<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Who I really am. Who you really are. Do you know? Will you believe? Are you beginning to see what many awakened eyes<\/strong> are seeing, and sharing? It feels lighter, brighter, easier, flowing, and ever-changing as you continue to evolve<\/strong>, and what you will see begins to\u00a0shift<\/strong>.<\/p>\n The gift<\/strong> of your life filled with love and light<\/strong>\u00a0was given to you. \u00a0Every year this celebration of the birth of a most cherished soul who shared a most profound message. It\u2019s a love story<\/strong> about you and I, and who you can choose to become when you have faith<\/strong> in something far greater than yourself.<\/p>\n A Divine truth that exists within you is waiting to be awakened, seen, heard, and felt<\/strong>. It is a love<\/strong> only you can unveil<\/strong>. Find it within, and your life will never be the same. Your experiences will feel more aligned, <\/strong>and all that drama, stress, and complaining? It slowly fades away.<\/p>\n Choose to believe<\/strong> so you can trust\u00a0in your own light<\/strong>, and have\u00a0faith<\/strong> in the story of your life. Your precious gift to give<\/strong>. What will be your story, and how will it unfold over 2014?<\/p>\n My theme for 2014 year is FOCUS<\/strong> \u2013 completing my book for a growing community of a vision (my purpose) of teaching others the practices of living\u00a0judgment-free<\/strong>. \u00a0It is pure\u00a0joy<\/strong>\u00a0to witness the impact it’s had on the lives I’ve been blessed to touch. I am so grateful<\/strong> to all of you for believing in me as I believe in you.<\/p>\n What will you be your theme (intention) for 2014? <\/strong><\/p>\n Write it down where you can see it every day. Why does it matter<\/strong> to you? What do you long<\/strong> to experience? Feel free to share in the comments below. It will create more loving energy<\/strong> for your story to unfold :<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Every Christmas I feel myself wanting to slow down. Reflect on the past year. Remember what\u2019s most important. Spend time connecting with those I cherish, and space just on my own. I see, hear, and feel the rushing around me – Holiday stress, difficult loneliness, or struggle amidst Christmas Songs trying to spread love, joy […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[58],"tags":[114,115,116],"class_list":["post-3209","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-faith-letting-go","tag-believe","tag-christmas","tag-holiday-stress"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/carolynhidalgo.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3209","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/carolynhidalgo.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/carolynhidalgo.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carolynhidalgo.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carolynhidalgo.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3209"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/carolynhidalgo.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3209\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9405,"href":"https:\/\/carolynhidalgo.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3209\/revisions\/9405"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/carolynhidalgo.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3209"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carolynhidalgo.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3209"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carolynhidalgo.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3209"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\n Do you hear what I hear? A song a song high above the tree\u2026<\/em><\/strong>
\n Do you know what I know\u2026A child a child\u2026<\/em><\/strong>
\n He will bring us goodness and light.”<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n