At this time of the year

when

shorter days of light,

holidays

and

holydays

combine,

many people,

maybe most,

wear

a mixed

rainbow

of feelings.

Sadness

from past

and

present,

pleasure,

joy

sometimes

collide

with outer

appearances,

sparkling lights,

jingle bells,

and our own selves.

How to reconcile

the different streams?

A dear friend

in the theater

told me

about

preparing for a role.

“Put on a rehearsal skirt.”

This season

as I dress to go out,

I put on

my rehearsal skirt.

I am not

playing a role

other than myself.

I am tuning into the

joy

which lives

in my heart

next to the

sadder feelings.

Each time

I return home,

I realize

the rehearsal skirt

helped me

BE

in the happier

self.

I am reminded that

dark

and light

are part of the

seasons

and

living

as a human being

in a world

where

living

in

each moment

is the gift

of Being.