The Ghosts of Past, Present, and Future
Welcome to Through Lines! Living creatively, thinking imaginatively, practicing the craft of storytelling, and uncovering your invisible strings
It’s December!
As December unfolds with twinkling lights, silver bells, and the pressures to not only enjoy every moment of festivities, but to rest and treat ourselves to deep self care, I also think about the scary ghost stories element of the season.
The end of the calendar year is nigh, and December is a month of hauntings. Specifically, our own versions of Dickens' three spirits. Like Scrooge's spectral visitors in A Christmas Carol, our personal ghosts of past, present, and future shape how we experience this season—though they manifest not in rattling chains (usually not, at least), but in memories, current circumstances, and anticipated tomorrows.
The Ghost of Christmas Past whispers to us through handmade ornaments passed down through generations, butter-stained recipe cards, and the one carol that inspires tears even when it’s playing over the loudspeaker in a grocery store. For some, these memories shine golden; for others, they cast long shadows. Both are valid. December doesn't demand that we only remember joy—it asks us to acknowledge all that has shaped us, to honor both the light and dark of our personal histories.
In the present, we might find ourselves wrestling with a different kind of spirit. Today's ghost might take the form of emotional strain, relational tensions, or the exhaustion of trying to meet impossible expectations. Or perhaps it appears as unexpected cheer, new traditions being born, or the simple peace of watching snow fall in silence. Whatever form your present takes, it deserves to be recognized rather than pushed aside in pursuit of some idealized version of the season.
The Ghost of Future Christmas flickers at the edges of our consciousness, carrying both our hopes and fears. Will next year be different? Will it be better? Are we creating memories worth keeping? Like Scrooge, we have the power to shape what's coming, but first we must accept where we are now.
The magic of December cannot be found in achieving some idealized version of life that hovers beyond reality, but in living creatively and mindfully within our circumstances. Maybe this means starting new traditions when old ones no longer serve us, or seeking out rituals that speak to our current needs and longings. Or it can be finding moments of calm amongst the chaos. Or, seeking connection in meaningful ways, major or minor.
This season, we can acknowledge our personal ghosts, whether they bring comfort or discomfort, and find ways to move forward with them rather than despite them. There's room in this season for all of us, exactly as we are.
However you choose to celebrate the holidays and honor the passing of another year, let it be an earnest expression of where you are right now. The most powerful gift we can give ourselves this season, and any time of year, is authenticity.
I’ll be reckoning with the Spirits of Past, Present, and Future, as I tend to do year-round—my ghosts work hard, and have never yet taken a well-deserved vacation. But I’m trying to let the Ghost of Christmas Past be more of a friendly photo album than a haunting presence. I’m aiming to give the Ghost of Christmas Present permission to show up in mismatched Christmas pajamas and slightly burned gingerbread cookies. And as for the Ghost of Christmas Future? Well, that one has always been the scariest to me. But I keep reminding myself that, like Scrooge, I get to wake up tomorrow and write my own story—haunted manuscript optional.
Happy Holidays to all, and Happy Hauntings to the ghosts walking amongst us.
Story Seeds
For authors or illustrators who create stories for young readers (or readers of any age!), here are three seasonal story seeds to get inspiration flowing:
❄️A snow globe collection is found on a shelf, but the snow globes don’t sit quietly.
❄️On the darkest day of the year, something emerges from the woods seeking warmth and a place to rest.
❄️The origin story of this amazingly festive house in San Francisco:
Glimmers to share
✨I made Muddy Buddies (AKA Puppy Chow) with my kids, and this treat really took me back—it was a staple of middle school sleepovers and parties, and it was a wonderfully nostalgic, special recipe to share with my own tween and his brothers.
✨A Clüsterfünke Christmas is streaming on Paramount+:
“Holly must buy up the Clüsterfünke Inn to make it a mega-resort, but then she meets Frank and wonders whether she should complete the assignment and go back to her city life, or fall in love with him and find the spirit of Christmas.”
A Clüsterfünke Christmas is as warm, cozy, and cheesy as the Christmas Hallmark movies it parodies, which made it a relaxing and fun watch while I drank hot cocoa and dreamt about snowy Vermont getaways (minus the realities of driving on icy backroads).
✨Making Space: “A delightful and inspiring picture book about making time for the little things that make life rich and beautiful, from author Paola Quintavalle and award-winning illustrator Miguel Tanco.”
This is such beautiful and delicate picture book, and I’m eager to add it to my bookshelf.
✨It’s Winter Solstice: one of my favorite days of the year to celebrate! I love to spend time in nature (even when I’m in a big city), light candles, enjoy warm baked goods, and think about the rituals and traditions that have connected people across time and space, all of whom have honored the darkness of winter and hopefully looked ahead to the sun’s return.
Through lines
How has your holiday season been creative?
How has it been authentic?
What’s something new from this year that you’d like to take with you in the holidays seasons to come?
About Me
I’m Christie, and I’m a story person. I work as a children’s literary & illustration agent. I’m a writer, with published essays and a novel + short stories in the works. I’m a former elementary school teacher and current homeschooling mom. I also do data analysis (stories abound!). Some of my enthusiasms are baking, urban walks, forest hikes, gothic poetry, horror movies, Taylor Swift, and cats. And books - books are my passion and stories are my mission.
Through Lines is here to examine the craft of storytelling, explore publishing industry insights, celebrate the joy of learning, and discover the magic hiding in ordinary moments.
One professional question: If one of your Story Seed ideas turns into a full book manuscript for me, is that something that can be queried and published? Or no since the Story Seed idea was yours? Just curious how that works!
Such a thoughtful and inspirational post, thank you! I too have been thinking of this season in terms of these ghosts, and I really appreciated the insights you brought to their presence.