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I hosted a virtual Christmas party in my membership program, Your Platform Matters (YPM).\n\n\n\nAt the party I encouraged a writing exercise: Christmas Reflections. \n\n\n\nI asked these writers to close their eyes and go back in time to a warm and wonderful Christmas memory from their childhood.\n\n\n\nRather than trying to capture a big, sprawling scene, I asked them to zero in on a detail. Using the one-inch frame Anne Lamont talks about in Bird by Bird, they narrowed their focus to a detail that they could see, smell, taste, touch, or hear.\n\n\n\nWe captured those multi-sensory, concrete, specific details in words and phrases, dropping them in the Zoom chat.\n\n\n\nWhat a quiet, creative gift it was to share those memories with each other, to go back in time, to reflect...to write. \n\n\n\nAfter the party sendoff, I assembled the snapshot memories (with their permission) to create a free verse poem:\n\n\n\nChristmas Reflections\n\n\n\nPopcorn captured on strings strung on the tree,Mom, sis, and I around kitchen table, molding memories out of salt dough ornaments.Snowed in with guests,ice skating on the road,fluffy snowflakes falling on faces,magic in the night sky.\n\n\n\nCarols around the old upright piano\u2014the twinkle in his eye bounced off his rosy cheeks as hisfamily sang the familiar tune.Pinecandlelightblack hairsparkling crystal necklacegreen silkreaching and hitting the high notes.\n\n\n\nCandles glimmered in hands lighting evening darkness.The lonely ceramic clown tucked in the Nativity scene\u2014family humor nestled amidst the holy.I bend pipe cleaner arms around tree branch\u2014the hand-crafted felt mouse smiles back at me.In the midst of the darknesswe sat in the puddle of light from the tree.\n\n\n\nWrapping paper rustling in the night.Excited anticipation waiting at the top of the stairs,kitchen breakfast smells wafting up to us:bacon, sausage, cinnamon buns.We tiptoed down the stairs,our slippers silencing our steps.Cookies set out for Santa\u2014only crumbs in the morning.Fireplace crackling\u2014Santa\u2019s in the kitchen!Afraid of men with beards, I was assured thatSanta Claus was gone.\n\n\n\nShiny blue bicycle.Silver blue-tinted ball ornament.The young girl looking back at methrough the ornament's reflectionwas full of joyful smiles.Surrounded by the rapidly torn wrapping paper\u2014utter delight.My fingers swiftly undid the twist tiesso I could stroke the loop braidsof my doll come to life from my favorite books.\n\n\n\nAre we there yet? rang from the backseat.Grandma's house full of warm laughter.Wrapped in blankets on the floorplaying the Authors card gameand Monopoly\u2014the world was clear and bright.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nTry it!\n\n\n\nTake a moment to try this yourself.\n\n\n\nClose your eyes and capture that one-inch square of a warm and wonderful Christmas memory from your childhood.\n\n\n\nShare it in the comments below. I want to go back in time with you to see, smell, and hear your Christmas reflection.\n\n\n\nWe so enjoyed the magic of creating this in community. I hope you find your writing community, as well. You're always welcome to be part of Your Platform Matters!\n\n\n\nMerry Christmas from the writers of YPM\u2014and from me!\n\n\n\n________________________________