Last week, in Palm Springs, from where I am usually inspired to write, my mother and I saw the motion picture, “Brooklyn” – adapted from exquisite Colm Tóibín’s novel of the same name.

GRACE, BEAUTY, LIGHT, AND LOVE. FEARLESS, DESIRE, HOME, IDENTITY, DEATH OF THE OLD SELF AND REBIRTH
Days later again, in Palm Springs, where I also love to see motion pictures, and where we witnessed the arrival of the Winter Solstice, we all saw, “The Danish Girl,” the true story of brave painter, Einar Wegener, who became the first transgendered woman, Lili Elbe, in the early part of the 20th Century.
GRACE, BEAUTY, LIGHT, AND LOVE. FEARLESS, DESIRE, HOME, IDENTITY, DEATH OF THE OLD SELF AND REBIRTH

This morning, this Christmas Day, here in Danville ~ San Ramon, where we are celebrating the blessings of the holiday with our family, I think of these attributes ~ Each of the central characters willingly stepped into change, bravely letting go, embracing transformation, despite challenges circling their hemispheres and to choose to receive the gifts given to them by those who surrounded them with love and encouraged them to, yes, BE BRAVE and to BE BOLD.
To watch both films is to be nothing less than deeply moved and beautifully inspired to contemplate how we each can be bravely transformational ourselves. The theme of the Winter’s Solstice ~ the root holiday of what we know as Christmas.
I watched the sun rise last week, gleaming and glowing over the desert mountain range, I contemplated that which invigorates us, me, we – into choosing the live we each choose. Building our identities within the world around us. Being fearless to live as we are, in truth, justice, and the most authentic way.

To embrace that CHANGE IS THE ONLY CONISISTENT IN LIFE. As we progress forward, to shed the old patterns, habits, clothes, objects, thoughts and beliefs, and for many, identities, that no longer serve us. To welcome the new SUN as it RISES, promising a new day, VIGOROUS, GLORIOUS, BOUNTIFUL!
This Christmas Morning, as I walked amidst the fallen golden leaves around the area where we are staying, I watched the sunrise over the hills of the East Bay, the foot of Mount Diablo, the rolling hills of emerald green and light, I understand more than ever, we must be FEARLESS IN LETTING GO ~ to fly, be free, to soar as we are like birds, branch to stamen, to blooming flower ~ to spread our love and light and beauty and gifts to all. At this holiday time, to share in the gifts of who we truly are with us, allowing our light to shine so others are inspired to do so as well.

Together we hold hands as we celebrate the Winter Solstice, Give thanks for the Gifts we share with all our loved ones during Christmas and Shed the Past and Greet the New Year, Coming this way! Blessed Be and Be Beautiful! xoxo
Alicia Gargaro-Magaña is the author of Miss Fancy Pants
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