The Tree as the Present
Sometimes the greatest gifts aren’t wrapped, they’re the moments that hold us still.
Do you have a habit of reflection, or do you wish you did? A moment in your week when you slow down long enough to notice what’s right in front of you?
I’ve been trying to build that kind of rhythm into my Sundays. I get up early, pour a cup of coffee, and take a little time to think, write, or just sit in the quiet before the day begins.
This morning, I was going to just post a Being HumanKind book chapter I had just edited. But then I looked up, focused on our tree, and thought, why do I love the Christmas tree so much?
The house was still. The kind of quiet that feels holy in its own way. The lights from the tree made the room feel special, and I thought about how much I love this month of having it in our home.
Sarah always makes this season feel special. She has a gift for creating warmth, every light, every decoration, every small touch whispering, you are home.
And maybe that’s why I couldn’t look away from the tree. Because it wasn’t just a decoration. It was our story, hanging right there on the branches.
One of the best parts of the season for me is when we pull out the box of ornaments. We unwrap each one carefully, remember the story, and place it on the tree where we can see it. It’s like reliving all the places we’ve been and the moments that made us who we are.
There’s the hand-carved Yellowstone ornament, a reminder of the trip that blew our minds—and of what happens when you step away from routine and see the world again with fresh eyes. I can still feel the ground’s heat as we sat watching the geysers erupt and the bison crossing the road like they owned
Then there’s the Bar Harbor buoy, from the morning Sarah woke before dawn to hike and watch the sun rise on the highest point on the East Coast. That ornament was from our fifth anniversary.
The I ❤️ NY ornament makes me smile every time, a small nod to Milton Glaser and our first trip to New York with the kids. We taught them how to ride the subway, look up at skyscrapers without tripping over people, and feel the heartbeat of one of the greatest cities in the world. Their faces said everything, wide-eyed, alive, and fully present.
And tucked among them are the homemade ones, the popsicle-stick and aluminum foil and lopsided ornaments the kids made when they were little. Imperfect and priceless. Each one a small echo of the laughter and chaos that filled our home in those days.
Somewhere along the way, we started a tradition: instead of buying souvenirs we’d never use again, we’d buy an ornament on every trip. Something small but meaningful, a reminder of the places we’ve been, the people we’ve met, and the moments that shaped us.
Now, every December, we don’t just decorate a tree. We get to revisit our story.
And as I sat there this morning, it hit me, it’s not really about the ornaments. It’s about presence.
Every one of those memories began with a simple decision: to pause life long enough to live it. To unplug, take a trip, and explore the world with the people who make it worth exploring.
The world will always push us to move faster, to do more, to chase bigger. But the moments that make life meaningful are the ones we slow down long enough to notice.
Maybe that’s what I was supposed to write today. Not another chapter. Just a reminder, that the things that matter most aren’t things at all. They’re moments.
Try This: If you have ornaments or decorations that mean something to you, take a few minutes this week to look at them. Hold them. Tell their stories out loud. Let yourself feel grateful for the people, places, and seasons they represent.
Reflection Prompt: What are the “ornaments” in your life: the people, memories, or moments, that remind you of what really matters?
Go Be: Be the kind of person who collects moments, not things. Be present enough to see the beauty right in front of you. Be here. Be human. Be kind.
If this reflection speaks to you, I’d love for you to join me on the journey. ✨ Sign up for the Being HumanKind book prerelease — coming soon.
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