Christmas in New York

Now that I have spent my first Christmas in New York, I can give you the scoop on what the reality is about Christmas in the city.

Let me begin by telling you that if you think a trip to New York for Christmas is going to be some dreamy, Hallmark experience it is not! Do NOT come to New York expecting this wonderful Christmas experience.

With us living here, we had the advantage of knowing when and how to get around and navigate the Christmas season. When you are a tourist visiting here, you have the pressure of doing everything you can in the limited amount of time you have here.  

Make no mistake, there are a LOT of people here during the holidays. These are not crowds but blobs.  It gets so condensed that you will find yourself unable to move at times. 

So what did we do on our first Christmas in New York?

• Attended the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade
• Visited the New York Gingerbread competition
• Walked through the Christmas market at Bryant Park
• Saw the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center
• Attended the performance of the Radio City Rockettes
• Viewed Christmas windows at Macy’s
• Walked 5th Avenue to see lights & displays
• Walked through the Christmas market in Times Square
• Walked through the Christmas market in Grand Central Terminal

Obviously we didn’t do everything we had hoped to do but these were the things at the top of our list.  Some things we don’t need to do every year.  

Also contrary to the movies, they don’t always have a “White Christmas” here.  In fact, we got snow here the day after Christmas.  

I enjoyed our first Christmas here and think we managed it well.  

If you want to visit New York during Christmas, here are some suggestions:

• Map out your transportation and learn the subways.
• See the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center early in the morning (5-6 am).  Do not attend the tree lighting.  It is a mess.
• Don’t spend your Christmas here.  Visit at the beginning of the Christmas season.  The Christmas markets are less crowded.
• Book any shows or experiences early and ahead of time.  Prices are insane if you wait until you get here.
• If you want to shop at FAO Schwartz Toy Store, be prepared to wait.  Lines wrap around the building.

I think many locals celebrate today with most of the Christmas tourists have departed.  I won’t say that Christmas in New York isn’t a good experience only that you have to manage your expectations.

New Year Expectations

People who have gym memberships throughout the year usually dread going to the gym in January because of people who have made resolutions to work out.  The gyms are usually crowded but by the end of February, it typically settles back down to normal levels.

I usually try to manage my expectations of the new year and I’m not much into setting resolutions.  I simply want to improve what I can and not set any unreasonable expectations.  

A year ago my wife and I began the process of selling and purging things in preparation for our move to New York.  It seemed like a daunting task a year ago but now we are here and we got it done.  I haven’t regretted the move.  It was a big move for us but I am glad we made it.  

It was a big task.  I won’t lie to you about that.  I will tell you that I was not onboard with this move in the beginning and all the work it was going to take to get here.  When I began to felt stressed about it, I would constantly remind myself that we couldn’t do it all at one time.  It took small steps and doing a little every day.  That’s the approach you have to take when you are faced with large tasks.  Just take small steps instead of stressing out over the big picture.

Although I often stress out when I see the big picture.   I try not to but I usually have to have a plan.

One of the most important pieces of advice I could give you is to sit down and map out your plan into smaller chunks so that you won’t be overwhelmed.  Also, don’t be so rigid with your plan that you don’t allow yourself room for unexpected situations that might come up.  One of those things you can’t predict - especially when you are selling a house - is any repairs you might need to do after an inspection.  In our situation, I hadn’t predicted that we would need to make repairs to our chimney.  These things happen and you have to expect the unexpected.

Yes I fussed and cussed along the way but in the end everything got done.  

As we start another year, I am not planning another move this year but if we do we will do what we can to get it done.  

Here’s a list that I found which should set our focus on the new year ahead:

1. Self-reflect on your priorities
2. Set goals that make sense.
3. Set your focus on progress, not perfection.
4. If you fail, regroup and keep trying.

Just reset your mind for 2026 and do your best.  

How Will I Finish?

As many of you know, I grew up as a preacher's kid. Most of my life centered around the church.  I did what was expected by my church. I wore the church clothes, and I played my part. It was all I knew then.  My father was obsessive about the church.  It was his life.  Unfortunately, my father left the church after the organization leaders betrayed him.  The events that happened after over 40 years of ministry was the last straw for my parents.

I had my own path which also led to me leaving the church.  I was living a miserable life and suffering from severe depression.  A culmination of events caused me to also leave the church.

I left the church, but I didn’t leave God. I don’t regret growing up in church, I just regret that I didn’t encounter God sooner.  

I’m still figuring things out. I know I have hurt and disappointed people along the way, but I don’t think any of us gets through life without scars. This has been my journey.  I wonder many times how it will all end for me. I want to finish strong. I want my life to mean something.

Life is about our choices.  We all have free will to make them. Sometimes we make the right choice and many times we do not. We can only do the best that we can and make the decision on what we know.  The part that scares us is the unknown.  I have tried to learn to just keep moving forward and have faith that God will work things out.

I once listened to several preachers but now I only listen to a few. Sadly, when they become political, I cut them out. I don’t want to hear Christian nationalism; I want to hear from God. The audio Bible has often become my sermons now. Listening without being slanted by someone’s opinion.  

When my time ends, I want to say that I have finished my race strong.  

We are all getting older. It doesn’t last forever. We have to focus on what is really important. For me, my eternal destination is the most important thing to me. I have had my career, my adventures and experiences.  

Certainly, I have had some interesting stories about the church but I can tell you that you don’t have to be crazy or any sort of religious nut to have a personal relationship with God. You just have to talk to Him and open yourself up to the experience that only you can have with Him. You don’t have to be a member of a political party or even attend church. I have attended many hours of church, held many positions in the church and done the things that others expected but those things aren’t the main thing.

I heard a song recently and the lyrics say:

It ain't about the church clothes
It ain't about a big show
It ain't about the doin' up to measure up
To earn the love, Lord knows
Heaven ain't a zip code
Take me where the light goes
It ain't about the church clothes
Church clothes, church clothes

Your own relationship with God is the main thing.  It's the only thing that matters.  Don't neglect it or ignore it.  God doesn't want your perfect attendance in church, He wants you.