Deck the Halls
The turkey is eaten, the relatives have likely gone, and you have a few days on your hands after a busy holiday.
For some of us, that means getting up to shop at five a.m. tomorrow morning so we can get a head start on our holiday shopping list. For others of us, it means sleeping in, having lots of leftovers, finding we have time on our hands to get into mischief or taking on that project we’ve just not had time to do before now.
There may be a “honey do” list a mile long and you find yourself wishing you HAD to go into work on Friday so you don’t have to tackle any of the items. After all, there are lots of games or holiday specials on the television and you are ready to kick off your shoes and relax while you watch.
As I can attest to, after having driven home from an out of town meeting yesterday, some of us were in traffic for twice as long or more than we normally were and are just glad to be home, or to whatever destination we were headed to.
Then, there are those of us who find ourselves in a solemn place this season. We may have ill loved ones that are very sick. We may, like a friend of mine just last night, have lost a loved one we will miss terribly. Maybe a family situation such as the loss of a job, a divorce, or a tragedy you or a loved one was involved in overshadows any celebrations right now.
Yes, life goes on even though holidays come.
Deck the Halls is one of my favorite holiday songs. I often find myself humming it – even throughout the year.
We can easily get wound up in the season, especially when we are constantly bombarded by advertisements, songs on the radio that have a holiday theme, and decorations all over the place. We even decorate our homes and cars with seasonal items.
There just doesn’t seem to be anyplace you can get away from it for awhile. We stuff more meals, activities, decorating, and buying into this small five week period than at any other time of the year.
No wonder we often feel stressed – and that’s on top of all the regular busy activities we have going on!
Working with children and families through the years, I’ve seen a definite pattern in the levels of stress exhibited when school breaks are coming. Ask any teacher and they will confirm that children know there is something getting ready to happen as they prepare to be on break…and it’s not just about lots of toys.
Many students are anxious about the time at home and it shows up in the classroom. It’s either lots of excitement or lots of anxious anticipation of “what will happen” while they are away from school. After all, children feel our stress coming out at home…and it’s not always positive.
They hear our talk. They see our actions. They know the pattern.
So what is the holiday atmosphere like in your home?
Is it one of stress that is full of monster shopping events, lots of cooking, hours of traveling, excessive television watching by children and adults, LOTS of food, little sleep and much tension?
OR, is your holiday season one of joy and taking things in stride without all the “stuff” that comes with our society today?
Believe it or not, WE have control of what the time means for us and the ones we love.
If you think about it, decking the halls is always optional, excessive food can be managed, what we do with our spare time is always open for discussion, and traveling is discretionary (it can always be done at a different time of the year.) Even for those who are blessed with an income that allows for excessive purchasing of extravagant holiday gifts, it’s really not necessary. We can do without all that stuff.
It’s the important things that matter.
What are they, you ask? What could we be thinking of around this season that would produce less stress and more enjoyment in our lives?
Here are some simple thoughts for you to consider:
~~ Take good care of yourselves and your loved ones – physically and emotionally.
~~ Provide a safe environment where you teach your children – or those others around you – the importance of love and respect for others.
~~ Take some time to reflect on why we actually celebrate during this time of year and discuss that with those that mean so much to you.
~~ Find a way to give back to the community and include your family and/or friends in the effort. There are so many ways to offer help over the holidays AND throughout the year.
~~ Consider downsizing all those events and decorations to a more manageable level. Your family, and you, will notice a difference.
~~ Instead of watching television all day long, take a break to go out in the yard, take a drive, or enjoy a walk with the family.
~~ If the holiday schedule gets out of control – and it can very fast – step back and see what you need to do to even it out. It’s ok not to show up at a party or an event that you’ve known about for months. You don’t owe anyone an explanation. Just do it. Saying “I just can’t/couldn’t make it. So sorry.” is just fine and you know it. You may just be thinking of a million reasons why you “have” to go when, in reality, there is rarely a time you have to “make an appearance” anywhere.
My wish for you today – and through this busy time of year – is that you “deck the halls” with the safety, comfort, love, and ease that you want for you and your family during this holiday season. Pack it full of love and share the overflowing love with others by giving something of yourself this holiday season to those less fortunate. If it means breaking tradition to enable you and your family to get in a healthier routine, do it. It only takes a few changes to make this coming holiday a more relaxed and meaningful one for you and the family.
~ Joellen