I’ve always loved Christmas. But that hasn’t always prevented the whirlwind surrounding it from robbing me of the best part – the joyful anticipation leading up to it. More years than I’d like to admit the holiday spirit hasn’t taken hold until the big day itself, and then it’s over so quickly I’ve ended up feeling totally cheated. But not this year; this holiday season my heart has been full of Christmas cheer for weeks.
Of course having more free time to embrace the season has contributed to my bliss. Decorating, connecting with friends, dropping off gifts in those big blue barrels around town, watching dozens upon dozens of Hallmark Christmas movies . . . wait, what? Yep, you heard it right. This year I’m hooked on those all too sappy tales with over-the-top holiday settings and the expected happy endings. If you’ve wondered why I haven’t blogged lately, it’s simple: I’ve been glued to the Hallmark channel.
Each movie is pretty much the same; a reminder that happiness is usually within our grasp, we just have to open our eyes and our hearts. In two-hour increments, we’re reminded over and over that nothing good comes from allowing past heartbreaks to dampen our spirits and weigh down our souls. Once we stop clinging to bygone sorrows or rejections, goodness descends upon us and our days are magically merry and bright. It’s just that simple, or so Hallmark would have us believe…
But some holidays are not so easy. The losses were too recent or the sorrows too great to be swept aside; there’s just no room in our heavy heart for merriment, even at Christmas. I’ve known a few of those not so merry holidays, but thankfully that’s not where I find myself this year. Our little family has already received the greatest of gifts … we grew. With the addition of the newest mini Murray, we’re ending this year plus one. Anyone that has ever lost someone dear knows there’s no better reason to go all out at Christmas than when you have a new life to celebrate.
That brings me back to Hallmark. I realize it’s unlikely that watching endless hours of holiday-themed warmth and romance will magically bring joy to everyone’s holiday season. But from my experience it has made a perfect backdrop for Christmas decorating. If you’re like me, and your family disappears when it comes time to deck the halls, you’ve probably experienced plenty of decorating solitude. But this year, my new Hallmark friends were there through five trees, two mantles, multiple bookcases, coffee tables, centerpieces, and well, you get the idea. And that’s not all. These sentimental gems were also great company while wrapping gifts, baking holiday treats, and writing little notes on gifts or cards.
I know you’re thinking all these things take so much time… time you don’t have. And in the past, I’d agree. I’d be right there with you in a frenzy trying to get it all done. But, this year the weeks leading up to Christmas have been almost leisurely. You’re thinking the obvious answer is that I’m retired, so of course I have plenty of time. True, but there’s more to it than not working. I was retired last Christmas and it was anything but relaxing. Maybe it’s not a fair comparison, but last year Tim, my husband, unexpectedly landed in the hospital for a week just before Christmas, severely limiting my ability to chase after those final few gifts or finish all those little last-minute touches I had planned for Christmas. I learned quickly that retirement doesn’t guarantee smooth sailing and it was largely that experience that led me down a different path to the holidays this year.
For one, I’ve spent much less time shopping in December than ever before. Having accumulated many of my gifts before Thanksgiving, I’ve managed to completely avoid the last-minute panic buying that has often haunted me in the past. And for the shopping I still needed to finish, I opted for smaller stores to avoid the craziness. There was one more strategy that has helped de-stress my shopping, and this is key… I gave up the concept of gift-giving equality. Not that I ever worried about it being equal monetarily; it was more from a general perception standpoint, like avoiding one kid having seven gifts and another only three. This year I didn’t keep track and I’m surprisingly at peace with not forcing myself to buy extra gifts to even it out. Let’s hope the recipients share an appreciation of my new “you get what you get” philosophy as it relates to gifting.
Another little time saver has been detaching myself from social media. That’s not to say I’ve abandoned it completely. My new approach is to whip through my Facebook timeline in the couple of minutes it takes to brew my morning coffee and hit the high points. Twitter is my companion as I sip on my first cup. Some days I’ll check-in again later in the day, but most of the time I move on and never look back. It’s not like I used to spend hours a day online, but I’m pleased with how much I’ve enjoyed going old-school and catching up face-to-face, or with phone calls, emails, and hand-written notes.
I’m looking around at my Christmas wonderland and it’s hard to remember the holidays past when I didn’t have it in me to even put up a single tree. Fortunately, in those years we managed to find cheerful places to visit and soak up the essence of the season. Even when my house is decorated, I still love getting out and about during the holidays. The world seems so much warmer and more welcoming when draped with lush greenery, twinkling lights and bright red bows. Whether you go for the massive extravaganzas like Dollywood’s four million holiday lights illuminating the Smokies or a simple Christmas pageant at your church or just meeting a friend at a decked-out coffee shop – when the surroundings are festive you can’t help but feel more connected to the people around you. And it’s in that shared experience of holiday spirit that I usually find my best self. I seem to become more patient despite the larger crowds, more charitable despite so many demands, and most importantly, much more appreciative of my many blessings.
So, as everyone rushes around making lists and checking them twice to ensure Christmas day is just perfect, don’t forget that the real magic is happening now. As you prepare and organize and anticipate, take a minute to inhale all the excitement swirling around you. Let it lift your spirits and brighten your mood. Instead of waiting until Christmas day to feel all the good cheer we expect of the season, let yourself feel it now.
My simple wish is that you are able to fill your heart with enough joy and gratitude to carry you through Christmas and well into the new year! May this Christmas be your merriest yet!
