Gather around the tree everyone

[HappyChappy]

Woman's leg in fishnet stockings

I’m hanging forgiveness by way of a poem:

You cut my leg off and hung it on a tree.
You said it was part of an Italian story,
I’m just grateful that I am alive not dead,
Because last year you sent me a horse head.

**Not seen the movie, so this might not work.

[Harri]

HappyC, who cares if it fits or not, that is funny as heck!

I am hanging Laughter (I think we already did that but you can never have too much laughter right?)

[Only Human]

I love this idea and I'm here to hang my ornament! I also brought a Christmas song by my fave, Tom Petty. I hope it's okay.

My ornament is LOVE.

I got an out-of-the-blue hug from DD25 tonight. It reminded me that, despite her often hurtful words, she knows I'm on her side, that I love her. It reminded me that the work I'm doing here and in therapy, on myself, is worth every growing pain.

As promised, Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers singing Christmas All Over:

https://youtu.be/gaPj1GoDpQw

~ OH

p.s. Please forgive Tom's short hair in this video. I think he temporarily forgot he was a rock and roll star.

[Harri]

Hi Only Human!  I am glad you joined us and what a wonderful ornament you have hung!  I'm so glad you daughter did that.

Tom Petty playing as we all celebrate sounds great too.

Today I hang calmness

[JNChell]

I’ve not hung an ornament for a minute. Tonight I’m hanging progress on the tree. I’m better today than I was when I arrived here.

[once removed]

id like to hang "fun".

cause fun is fun, and we all need more of it in our lives!

[Harri]

Yes, you most definitely are JNChell!     

You are doing great.  

[HappyChappy]

I’ve hung presents. You can all open one gift before Christmas, here they are:

Harri: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_Rfjl6tGW4

Once removed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5TqIdff_DQ

Only Human: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3wKzyIN1yk

Freespirit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJ2cEc_TCH8

Time to brush up on my embarrassing Dad dance, for the kids.

[HappyChappy]

Just noticed JNChell, the dark rider is also around the tree, here's your present:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2VgdtTRZhag

Can I blame dyslexia for not seeing a shadowy rider ? Just remember, we are allowed mistakes on this forum. Viva mistakes !

[drained1996]

I'll hang HAPPY on the tree today.
That has been my planned destination since starting my healing/understanding process, and with the help of a great T, this community, and of course my own work I have arrived.  It's my Christmas wish that everyone's journey takes them there. 

[Harri]

Hi drained!  What a great word and I am so pleased you have reached the place you  have worked so hard to get to.  It must feel grand!

 

Happy, thanks for gathering all of us Peanuts together in song and dance!  That was fun and charming and sweet and so you!  Thank you. 

Once, good to see you having fun!   

[Woolspinner2000]

I see we are quickly getting more ornaments on the tree! Thanks everyone for pitching in. 
So what do you guys think? We seem to have presents arriving underneath for us to open too! What a special and awesome family that we belong to here! 

Wools

[Only Human]

Thanks for the present, HappyChappy!

Here's one for you. This video makes me instantly happy as many of your posts do. The beat, the humor, the acting. It's all good. NSFW: profanity

https://youtu.be/QK8mJJJvaes

This next present is for all of us. I want us all to have it all. "May you have auspiciousness and causes of success

https://youtu.be/BFkTu8Y1KLs

Today, my ornament is Let Go.

My xMIL visited today. She's often invalidating of my DD, something I hadn't recognized until coming here. As the visit progressed, I noticed DD was tuning out. She wasn't being heard by xMIL so she checked out. I recognized this as DD doing what she needed to do to keep it together emotionally. In the past, I might have said or done something to ease her suffering. Maybe created a distraction, maybe tried to bring her back into the conversation, anything to "prevent" a blow up by DD. Today, I let it go. DD got through it without my intervention and I took myself out of the "everyone" that she speaks of when complaining about her life.

~ OH

[Harri]

Only Human, your post made me smile ear to ear and had my eyes filled with tears at the same time.  Truly beautiful!  Thank you

And today i hang Thankfulness

[aslowrealization]

Love this idea and all the lovely gifts added here by the community these past several weeks 

Today, I hang Nourishment. As in a few special dishes that I am preparing on my own... .trying new things, honing my skills in a judgement-free space so perhaps someday I will be able to share them with others. But also spiritual nourishment. Prayer, quietness, and calming activities to restore a battered mind and spirit.

[Only Human]

I love your ornament, aslowrealization.

All the love in this thread, all the beautiful ornaments, gifts, support. It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas around here =)

Tonight I'm hanging the word PROGRESS.

Like JNChell, I'm better today than when I got here. I'm better right now than I was two hours ago.

Onward!

~ OH

[JNChell]

I’m hanging space tonight .

[guineap]

Kindness - hugs from new friends, words of encouragement from old ones, a conversation with a stranger, and self-kindness that says you can make mistakes and it will still be okay.

[Harri]

Today I hang acceptance... .again.   Truly it is a good thing but still

[Woolspinner2000]

It's so awesome, this beautifully decorated tree! And everyone who has helped decorate it and now the presents underneath. 

Happy sighs.I rejoice with every single one of you with each positive that you have shared! Never a more beautiful family or tree or gifts were given to each other, and I think more importantly to ourselves. 

It's almost Christmas Eve. How shall we spend it?

I will be going to a Christmas Eve service. You?

 
Wools

[Harri]

Rest, sleep and relaxation.  It's all good.

Oh, and I feel like hanging cinnamon today too.  Such a warm scent.

[freespirit]

You guys are so beautiful   

I would like to hang my appreciation for   bpdfamily forum   

You guys are recovery rock-stars and your presence in my life heals me.

 

[HappyChappy]

Free spirit, well said I’ll second that, we are an awesome tribe. I’ll “Hang the DJ“ and ask "how soon is now" ? Who am I. (We always play charades at Christmas) 

[Kwamina]

Hi everyone

Yeah this holiday period can be a difficult time for many of us dealing with BPD family-members and/or memories of days gone by.

At least here we can have some fun



Oh and by the way, Santa has been replaced, we now have:



The Christmas Wolf aka Wolf Santa aka Santa Wolf aka our very own Turkish!

The Board Parrot

[Woolspinner2000]

Merry Christmas everyone! 

What did the Christmas Santa Wolf bring us? 

[freespirit]

Board Parrot, you said -

At least here we can have some fun

Yes, Indeed we can, Mr Parrot!     

Santa Wolf brought me, standing on my own two feet at #MyResilientHeart   



PS, you are looking very sharp in your Christmas photo CRB 

Merry Christmas everyone!   

[JNChell]

Ok. Scrooge is here to contribute. I’m hanging the strings of popcorn because Wools ate the first attempt. Apparently llamas like popcorn. FYI, if you have a pet llama and enjoy popcorn,  take precautions.  Merry Christmas everyone.

[JNChell]

HC, that’s a great tune. Townes Van Zandt covering the Stones. Have you seen the movie?

[freespirit]

HappyChappy you said -

Can I blame dyslexia for not seeing a shadowy rider ? Just remember, we are allowed mistakes on this forum. Viva mistakes !

I didn't see your gift until now, and I also have dyslexia.Thank you for my Gift HappyChappy 

PERFECTIONISM ATTACKS

1. Perfectionism - My perfectionism arose as an attempt to gain safety and support in my dangerous family. Perfection is a self-persecutory myth. I do not have to be perfect to be safe or loved in the present. I am letting go of relationships that require perfection. I have a right to make mistakes. Mistakes do not make me a mistake. Every mistake or mishap is an opportunity to practice loving myself in the places I have never been loved. - Pete Walker.

I would like to place the Gift of Recovery Community under the tree #SoulFamily   

GAYATRI MANTRA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKl7A1tsbxc

Thank you 

[Marcie]

I would like to hang a ornament to no regrets.

I always worried that if I set boundaries and something happened to my BPD mother I would regret it. She passed away 2 weeks ago and I have no regrets.