At the end of the Christmas hullaballo last year, I realized we spent way too much of the holiday season rushing from one activity to the next, without a whole lot of peaceful, quiet moments. Christmas is my favorite time of year and I want to savor each bit of it, not race through it like we are running to a finish line.
I vowed this year would be different. And so in January, I wrote myself a letter and stapled it to my calendar for December. (Yes, I still use a paper calendar. I love my iphone more than life itself, but there's something about a paper calendar that I just can't do without.)
In my letter, I told myself to do less and to say "no" more. I told myself that last Christmas I had missed doing the simpler things of the holidays, like baking cookies and watching a Christmas special curled up on the couch with the kids. I told myself that the holidays are happier and we are all a happier family when we have more unscheduled time to simply be at home, soaking up the holiday season.
What a difference a year makes. We have said "no" more. We skipped five holiday cocktail shindigs. Five parties that I didn't miss at all. (Well, I missed the wine. That I missed. But otherwise, not missed!) I gave myself a day to bake all the Christmas cookies I could handle. We have had many moments watching Christmas specials, reading holiday books and just watching the lights of the tree.
Last night, instead of rushing around to wrap and bake, Chris and I piled the boys into the car to drive around Whoville and look at Christmas lights.
To me, this is what makes Christmas. The time you spend with the ones you love doing the simple holiday traditions. As I have grown up, I have realized that sometimes to find that time you have to learn to prioritize and say no with comfort and confidence.
I am already composing a letter to myself for 2011. And that letter will say - you did great last year, so please do 2010 all over again. Christmas is but two days away and I am relaxed and joyful. That speaks volumes.
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