Make It A Blissful Christmas... BE more than DO

Martine de Luna has been known for her work in transformational coaching.  Simply put, she helps those who are ready to for the next big thing in their lives, by guiding them towards the next steps to fulfill this.  “Transformational coaching is about helping people take action on improving themselves and their lives by guiding them through the changes they are making. Unlike “life coaching” (which changes how people act), transformational coaching helps clients change the way they see themselves,” she says in her website.

She is in the business of re-inventing.  Whether it’s self-image or a business, she does it all in the name of bliss.  “I guide women as they create changes in their lives, so that they can truly be blissful, peaceful and free, no matter what stage of life or business they are in,” she says.

This ethos easily translates to Martine’s decorating style for the holidays.  Guided by her passionate pursuit for a meaningful life, Martine says, “My dad had a dislike for overly-‘department store looking’ Christmas decors and treescapes, so I think I inherited that, and that’s why my decor has always been very personal and meaningful to my kids especially. I do believe creating the space at home for a meaningful Christmas is most important; it’s a time of the year when children get to believe in magic, in giving, in miracles. Instead of making the focus all on getting, I encourage parents to have a purpose for why they decorate, too.”

She elaborates, “We don’t have decor themes; our tree simply represents the children. This year, I decided to give them free reign! I have a basic pastel & whimsy thing going on, which I implement with vintage-looking pastel baubles and candy-stripe ribbon. But everything else is made by the kids, or they are one of a kind ornaments bought on occasion. So you could say that yearly, our theme is “a blissful Christmas.”

Like most families, Martine anchors hers in traditions, and during the holidays, she offers her children a significant way of feeling the blessedness of the season.  Because Christmas is about celebrating the miracle of Jesus’ birth, and believing, Martine ushers the season in mindfully, set in the purpose of commemorating the gift of Advent. “We have our annual Advent Calendar. You can see different versions we have had throughout the years in the #ablissfulchristmas feed. It’s a tradition founded on my own experience as a child, with my parents and my brothers, when we would light candles on the Advent Wreath each night of Advent and say prayers. In our family, we do the Advent Calendar as our tradition. Advent is actually MY favorite part of the season, because it’s like a little bit of Christmas each day. This year, our Advent Calendar is a product of daily paper cutting in between October to November, when we made animal envelopes. Inside each is a task for the day; the kids complete them as preparation for Christmas. It’s the best part of their December! Today for instance, we will make food baskets to give to the local church’s donation drive… What matters isn’t so much how you gather, but with whom. I’d rather BE more than DO, when it comes to Christmas. This is why we prepare the home to be a Christmas haven we wake up to each day of the holidays: There’s nothing really that beats that feeling!” Martine says.