Twelve Days of Christmas – Day 11: Finding Joy in the Season
Jan 4th, 2008 by Tana
Every year, I hear someone complaining about the hustle and bustle of the holiday season and how they’re getting lost in it all. I must confess, it’s happened to me. More than once.
This year was no exception. But as I struggled I came up with a dual strategy that seemed to solve my problem and soothe my soul. Be mindful. Be deliberate.
Actually, that epiphany came as I was driving around the mall, listening to Christmas music on the radio and seeing all of the holiday decorations around me (including wreaths, which I love so much). I was busy. I was hurrying. But I realized I could stop for a moment and simply enjoy the busy-ness and the hurry-ness of it all.
And really, that theory can take you quite far. For instance, some people dread the annual holiday parties. Especially the annual holiday office party. You have to go to a party and supposedly have fun with people who drive you crazy day after day after day. Or something like that.
I look at it this way. There are some things that might not exactly be your favorite thing about the season. But they are a big part of what makes the season what it is. Be deliberate when you attend the holiday party, and be mindful of how it contributes to the aura of the season.
Your favorite thing about the holiday office party may be the prime rib rather than the people. There’s nothing wrong with that. Or you may enjoy having a chance to dress up in formal clothes and go out for an evening – that in itself can be the highlight of it all rather than what you actually go out and do. Thus you can still choose to do things rather than just going along with it all because you think you have to. As in, be deliberate.
My personal roadblock of the holiday season would have to be my utter disdain for cold weather. Now I love wearing coats and long pajamas and sweaters (especially handknit ones) and all. But I hate shivering in the car while you drive those five miles before it warms up. I hate walking from my warm car into a store when it’s freezing cold and the wind is blowing like hell. It doesn’t matter what you have on. It’s cold, and there’s plenty of ice to slip on (something which I seem to do a lot).
But I must confess, even after growing up in Florida, it just doesn’t seem like Christmas to me unless it’s cold.Though in Florida, it did get cold for Christmas. Cold enough that we would actually turn on the heat, and wear warm clothes like long johns. My parents had this kerosene heater out in by the dining room table. Dad would prime it (I can still hear the sound) and get it going. Then we would all huddle around it to get warm while we ate breakfast. Being cold in Florida was exciting, and I guess we had to enjoy the excitement as much as we could by using that kerosene heater instead of just heating the whole house and being comfortable, for God’s sake!
That phenomenon used to serve me quite well in getting ready for Christmas. The weather would get into the 40’s at night and the 60’s during the day and it would be Christmas weather to me. I’d get all my holiday planning and shopping done in October, and the only thing left when the season actually arrived would be decorating, making holiday goodies, and simply enjoying it all.
But really, this strategy works for most anything. Any time of year. When you find yourself getting swept away being busy and just going through the motions, you don’t necessarily need to slow down. Just be mindful. Be deliberate. These are the moments of your life. Enjoy them.