Oh, I know, you still probably have Thanksgiving leftovers in your fridge, but the race to Christmas is on, even if we are not ready.
Now I do know people, wise people, that have been purchasing gifts all year. And on sale, no doubt. They have closets set aside for this purpose, neat and orderly. I actually know some who already have them all wrapped with perfectly tied bows.
Some clever and organized friends got their Christmas stamps early, avoiding the rush and getting the best selection as well. I just purchased mine, after a long wait at the Post Office and they were sold out of my first two picks. These friends are almost done with their cards, along with clever, cute notes inside.
These amazing people have had all their lists done for a month. The early bird gets the worm after all. Their baking supplies are ready and waiting to create miracles in their kitchens.
The lights have all been checked to make sure there are no burnt-out bulbs, put up the day after Thanksgiving. Their homes are elegantly decorated from the tippy top to the sparkling floors. I mean, they are just that good. Look out Martha Stewart.
They are, not me. Organized is not an adjective many would use about me. Creative? Yes. Festive? Yes. Organized? NO.
Actually, I am kind of fond of that rush of adrenaline that urges me on as I head into the chaos. Kind of. Honestly, I really want to do better, and starting right now I am going to really try. I said try, not necessarily succeed. Still, it is the season for miracles.
But before we deal with the dream of the perfect Christmas let us for a moment deal with self-care. Sure, while many, most even, will profess that the Christmas season is the most wonderful time of the year (although Scrooge and the Grinch did not start out fans and a lot of people, ok, mainly men, might say it is either basketball, baseball or football season, but I digress) the season is also filled with stress, bills, burn out and sometimes even worsened physical and mental health problems.
A poll taken by the American Psychological Association on this subject found that 41 percent of adults stated that they felt excess stress through the holiday season, lost sleep and either ate too much or too little. It went on to say that this holiday stress seemed to increase pain and often accentuate present conditions.
One of the best ways of dealing with this onslaught is gratitude, yup, gratitude. Turn your pressures into assets, like, “I am so lucky to have so many friends, I am happy that my family lives nearby or more basic, I am so thankful I get to celebrate Christmas this year.”
We must also practice the self-care measure of being honest with ourselves about what realistically we can do. Accept limitations. Understand that holidays, with all of our wonderful nostalgic feelings of lovely past occasions, seldom, if ever, match up to our rose-colored memories.
Often, we can be caught off guard by the memories of those who have departed. This flash of emotion can make our knees buckle. When Ron, my husband of over 30 years, died, he took with him a good portion of my appreciation and love for the holidays.
Those first couple years left me feeling empty, sort of walking through the gaiety in a fog. If you know someone who has recently lost a loved one, treat them with extra tenderness and include them when you can. No one wants to be alone on Christmas.
I also admit that I mourn the days when the holidays were held at my home, handing off the gauntlet was a bittersweet time. Now I realize I do not have to get up early to put in the turkey. Yes, there is a silver lining.
We need to remind ourselves not to succumb to unrealistic expectations. We see such perfect Christmas scenes in the movies on Hallmark and Lifetime, that when ours does not measure up, we feel let down.
Hey, those movies have actors, catered breaks, set decorators and they go home and get waited on. We have to actually do the real work and try to make it all appear easy. I don’t know about you, but my past holidays were more like “Christmas Vacation” than “It’s a Wonderful Life.”
The holiday season is so multi-layered that you and your heart can be pulled in a lot of directions. So, before we all go a bit insane, let us all take a deep breath in and then a slow breath out and repeat.
Sit and listen to your favorite Christmas music, sip a cup of hot chocolate topped with a marshmallow or whipped cream. Then take out a pen and paper, and without giving any deep thought, write down ten things you most hope to achieve or feel this Christmas.
Remember, it’s this Christmas we are talking about, not compared to past memories, but enjoying the magic that only Christmas 2024 can bring. Time keeps going by. Before we know it, it will be Christmas 2025. So, let’s relax, enjoy, and make Christmas 2024 one for the books!
Diana Ingram can be reached at DingramThurston21@gmail.com
