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What’s your #Christmas Miracle?

I don’t come from a region or family that celebrates Christmas. But we celebrate the Christmas spirit in many ways, on many occasions during the year: peace, harmony, blessings, love, giving.

This Christmas, I’m working on my novel, trying to finish up what I started during Nanowrimo, take the 50k words to their conclusion. A first draft, telling myself the story. I’ll spend my days with family, my sister-in-law who’s visiting, and try and do what I can to relax while I nourish the novel! It’s been a hard year on many fronts, but it has also been a year of personal blessings. I found my agent this year, I finished the nth draft of my first novel, my short stories got published in various places. I’m grateful.

My miracle is that I’ve stayed upright despite the odds, the often punishing hours. That I’m still friends with all of you, and this blog is alive despite the many challenges of keeping it updated. That I’ve been associated with Project Why, an organization I wrote about during April. Anouradha Bakshi, the founder of Project Why, has received her own miracle: it is sure to bring you a smile: her 8-yr old grandson donating his Christmas gift, a princely 20 Pounds, to his friends at Project Why.

Christmas

I hope each one of you, whether you celebrate the festival, or just its spirit, receive your miracles. The world, our planet, and all of us, needs miracles: we can try to be these miracles for each other. In love, in kindness, in compassion. May you all have blessed holidays, and a wonderful beginning of the year.

How are you celebrating Christmas? What’s your Christmas miracle? If you don’t celebrate Christmas, what are your holiday plans? What are you planning for the new year?

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Damyanti Biswas

Damyanti Biswas is the author of You Beneath Your Skin and numerous short stories that have been published in magazines and anthologies in the US, the UK, and Asia. She has been shortlisted for Best Small Fictions and Bath Novel Awards and is co-editor of the Forge Literary Magazine. Her literary crime thriller series, the Blue Mumbai, is represented by Lucienne Diver from The Knight Agency. Both The Blue Bar and The Blue Monsoon were published in 2023.

I appreciate comments, and I always visit back. If you're having trouble commenting, let me know via the contact form, or tweet me up @damyantig !

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64 Comments

  • It has been a tricky year here too, and world events have not been any consolation. However one of the best things were your posts about Project Why. Thank you for reminding me. I was doing my accounts today and looking for a good home for my winter fuel supplement (in the UK the government give all people over 60 a winter fuel bonus – but some of us really don’t need this so we give it to a charity). Thanks to you it has gone to Project Why.

  • No miracles here, per se, Damyanti, but we are spending the holidays in a wonderful way—visiting long-distance family members and friends, exploring nature, playing games, talking, reading and writing. Very enjoyable.
    Although your 2016 already looks to have been pretty stellar, I’ll wish you an even-better 2017! Take care and happy writing!

    • Damyanti Biswas says:

      All of those activities sound like miracles to me–I’m tied up in my study, writing trying, emotional stuff :). I really hope my 2017 wins over my 2016, but I’l lalso take anything it dishes out–I’ve decided to trust in the Universe.

      Have a wonderful 2017. Hugs.

  • aj vosse says:

    May you enjoy the last few days of the year… thanks again for introducing me to the April challenge… I’ve already began planning for the 2017 fun!
    May your inspiration keep motivating us… thanks!! 😉

    • Damyanti Biswas says:

      Thankyou. You, and all those who visit, inspire me too! Have a lovely 2017 🙂

  • macjam47 says:

    Happy New Year, Damyanti. I can hardly believe 2017 is just a couple of days away. For us, 2016 has been an amazing journey. We decided to move in early summer. It was a major, no, let me emphasize that, MAJOR downsize. By Christmas we were mostly settled.
    Each year we feed homeless people in the city, not only at Christmas, but throughout the year. Christmas is my favorite though, because of the cold and everyone running about getting ready for wonderful celebrations, the homeless are often forgotten.
    Congratulations on your successes of 2016. May you continue to have many more going forward. Love and Hugs/

    • Damyanti Biswas says:

      Thanks, Michelle, for your kind words and love. Thankyou also for being such a wonderful embodiment of the Christmas spirit, we all need to be sharers of joy and givers: you’re setting a wonderful example. I’ve been tardy in working at the soup kitchen in Singapore– I plan to be regular in the new year.

      • macjam47 says:

        When you are so busy their is no time to volunteer, remember that your beautiful smile will lighten another’s load. Hugs, my sweet friend.

  • dgkaye says:

    Wishing you a New Year filled with peace, patience, love and prosperity. 🙂

    • Damyanti Biswas says:

      Thanks, Deb, and to you. You’ve been one of the blessings for this blog with your constant sharing, and support.

  • oldpoet56 says:

    You are a very good writer and you have a very good heart, I wish you well with your novel.

    • Damyanti Biswas says:

      Thanks for the kind words. Liked your recent post on Truth troubles. Have a great 2017.

  • upasna1987 says:

    We used to pray for our presents on Christmas when we were Kids. I wish to visit Church next Christmas when my Son will be 3. You never failed to hop over the Blogs Damyanti..You are a great soul. Wish you more success next year. My Blog is my miracle which gives me Joy.

    • Damyanti Biswas says:

      Upasna, that would be such a wonderful shared experience for you, as well as your son! Sending you love, and good wishes for the new year.

  • Usually the family gather here but we had our ( first ever?) quiet Xmas and you know what – it was kind of nice. We made ourselves a turkey dinner with all the trimmings. (First time I’ve made a pie from scratch in years – never enough time!)
    Am following your successes and your blog always makes me smile.
    Peace and Happy New Years wishes.

    • Damyanti Biswas says:

      That Xmas sounds awesome. Hope you have yourself an even better new year’s celebration, and a beautiful new year. Thanks for your continued support–it keeps me going.

  • Congratulations on the published stories and finding an agent! I celebrated the Winter Solstice; the return of light. Hoping for a peaceful year around the world 🙂

    • Damyanti Biswas says:

      Thankyou so much! yes, we need the return of the Light so much– let’s hope 2017 listens to our collective prayers for peace.

  • Rasma R says:

    Just a simple quiet celebration at home. My hubby, me and our cat Sid. A little shiny Christmas tree, music, some punch and remembering Christ in Christmas. Hope your holidays are merry and bright.

    • Damyanti Biswas says:

      That sounds like a lovely Christmas. Have a great holiday season, and 2017!

  • jazzfeathers says:

    Beautiful post, Damyanti 🙂
    I won’t be sorry to see 2016 go. It was a tough year in so many ways, including personal ones.
    But let’s be hopeful for the future and grateful for what we still have.
    Thanks fo rsharing your thoughts.

    • Damyanti Biswas says:

      Thanks, Sarah, and wishing you all kinds of good things. Was so good to connect before and during Nano. Join me in some sprints once your research is done?

      • jazzfeathers says:

        I will 🙂
        But at the moment, I’m not ready yet.
        And hey! This looks like the perfect moment to wish you a beautiful new year!

  • Thanks for this post. I taught I was the only one that don’t go all out for Christmas…. So overrated. But I like the idea of celebrating the sprit of Christmas the real meaning and essence of it all. Keep up the good work with Project why.

    • Damyanti Biswas says:

      Yes, Patrice, we can all agree on celebrating the spirit of Christmas, peace and goodwill among mankind.

  • pjlazos says:

    Happy to have found you on social media and to follow your lead, Damyanti! You’re my writing hero. Congratulations on your good fortune. I know how it is the reward of hard work and not simply luck. Keep writing! oxo
    p.s. Thanks for the posts on Project Why. I myself am interested in global water issues and I may follow your lead her as well. So thank you again. :0)

    • Damyanti Biswas says:

      Likewise, Pam. So happy we met on our blogs. Thanks for holding my hand during the blogging and writing journey–makes it so much less lonely. Glad you liked Project Why, it is an org that deserves all the love in the world.

  • talkchatter says:

    I am glad that this year has brought you such blessings.

  • hilarymb says:

    Hi Damyanti – it’s so good to hear from you and exciting about finding an agent, then your involvement with Project Why – I sincerely hope I can do more for them next year … just need to get myself out of 2016 horrors … so things can progress happily forward in 2017. Thanks for your thoughts for us all – and for your continued support for so many things in life … care and compassion are so needed for so many – have a great time and nurture that novel to fruition .. cheers Hilary

    • Damyanti Biswas says:

      Thanks for all your love and support, Hillary. You’ve been such a kind presence on my blog- I deeply appreciate your visits. Sending you love and light for the new year, and tons of good wishes. Have a great 2017.

  • Peter Nena says:

    Merry Christmas, Damyanti!

  • I guess the Christmas spirit for me is what I was able to do today, Christmas day. Visiting a friend on high level care terminal cancer ward and driving his wife who is unable to drive herself to share a Christmas lunch together with her dying husband. It made my day joyful being able to do that.

    • Damyanti Biswas says:

      Ian, what a gift. Lots of good energies to you, and sending prayers for your friend and his wife– holding all of you in love and light. Hope peace and love finds you in the new year.

      • It’s a sad case. The husband is wasting away and his wife just had a complicated heart operation which resulted in a clot sitting on the optic nerve so she can’t drive presently.\ to see her husband. Thanks for your concern. He’s not a relative of mine just someone in need of help at this time.

        • Damyanti Biswas says:

          You’re very compassionate to help out someone in need. It is these acts that keep the world moving, and the darkness at bay.

  • C.E.Robinson says:

    Have a wonderful Christmas Day! Congratulations on your successful writing! There are miracles, small blessings everyday to be thankful for…???Christine

    • Damyanti Biswas says:

      Thanks Christine, and you’re so right, we have miracles and blessings everyday, and I send up a prayer of thanks :). Have a great 2017!

  • Congratulations for your personal blessings. For me, same as you I am celebrating the spirit of Christmas and this is just not confined to today but it continues throughout the year. With the kid around, there are some doing parts like decorating the tree, giving presents and reading stories based on Christmas theme. In the midst of it I count the blessings endowed upon me through 2016 and the kindness of people which touched me from time to time. Merry Christmas to you, Damyanti, and a very Happy New Year 🙂

    • Damyanti Biswas says:

      Thanks, Anamika. Blessings are all around us, we just have to open ourselves to them. Have a great new year, and hope to read more from you in 2017.

  • Dan Antion says:

    We celebrate a small family Christmas with food and companionship and by exchanging gifts. However you celebrate, I hope you enjoy the day.

    • Damyanti Biswas says:

      I hope you had a very good Christmas, Dan. Sorry I’m not as online these days as I used to be, and our blog interactions have reduced. I hope you have a great new year, and also that in 2017, I manage to comment on many more of your posts.

      • Dan Antion says:

        Thanks Damyanti. I know you’ve been busy and trying to get/stay healthy. I hope 2017 is a good year for you and yours and I wish you every success.

  • Chez Shea says:

    Christmas has always been a big thing here with us- just want to wish you all the best in this season of festivity and thank you for your kind and ready likes for my tentative posts over the last year. Best of luck with everything in 2017 xx

    • Damyanti Biswas says:

      May this holiday season bring you peace, warmth and togetherness. I’ve enjoyed reading your posts this year– hope to read more in 2017!

  • ccyager says:

    At the moment, I’m working on year-end business in preparation for 2017 with my writing and my freelance business. I guess I’m taking a break from the job search since the job postings aren’t terribly interesting or relevant to me. On Christmas Day, I try to spend the day reading, with breaks to eat my Christmas lunch, and then to Skype friends who live in other countries. On Monday this year, the science fiction group I’m in makes its annual shopping run to an excellent indie sci fi bookstore during its annual sale between Christmas and New Year’s. I have a 4-day weekend for New Year’s. Haven’t decided what I’ll do yet. My Christmas miracle is that my health has been relatively stable all year and my medical team is very, very happy I’m doing so well compared with 2015. It is truly something to celebrate! Cinda

    • Damyanti Biswas says:

      Wahoo for the shopping run, hope you got a good haul! I’m sure the new year will bring you new opportunities, Cinda, and I send up a prayer of thanks that your health is better. Enjoy the very long weekend. Hugs.

  • it’s a time of reflection, remembering those who have gone before us, and celebrating the special people still in our lives. like you and the rest of the writing community, who remind me that in a world full of dark spirits, there are still kind souls who serve as beacons of light.

    may your world be full of warmth, truth, and hope.

    • Damyanti Biswas says:

      Thanks, Joseph; and to you, likewise. Wishing you a great new year ahead.

  • Laura Beth says:

    So happy for you! I have an idea that’s been percolating in my head since the beginning of 2016, but I didn’t get the chance to participate in NaNoWriMo this year. I have some research to do before I begin writing, but I’m excited to make this goal for 2017. In addition, I want to finally start editing my NaNoWriMo attempts from 2012, 2013, and 2014.

  • My family got a tiny Christmas miracle today! Guess I’ll be featuring board books on my blog soon =D

  • I love the idea of a Christmas miracle. Somehow coming together as family – this year beginning to combine families for us – is a kind of miracle. Anxiety has arisen as we plan for adult children to meet, share time and our hopes of course for them to appreciate and enjoy one another rise.

    Good luck with your novel! And congratulations of publishing of short stories! What a beautiful accomplishment for you this year.

    • Damyanti Biswas says:

      I’m sure your children appreciate your efforts– nothing beats family and togetherness, the anxieties notwithstanding. Thanks for all your good wishes– hope to continue meeting you through our respective blogs 🙂

  • Not buying gifts this year. I had my kitchen re-done this summer and it should be paid off by February whoopee!) I’ll give my mother her favorite gift (moolah) but everyone else in my family is doing okay or working on their own project so they’re okay with it. And I’m working on getting my new novel out, which isn’t free. But I’m thankful for that and that my family members are doing well.

  • Amanda says:

    I love the question, “What are you planning for the new year”? The new year always feels fresh and exciting to me. I am slowly working on two blog posts to be first of 2017 (or perhaps the last of 2016, we shall see)–one about my 2017 Writing Resolutions, and the other about Writing Destinations for 2017.