Do you do what I do each holiday season?  I tend to want to do too much, get too little done and then I beat myself up for it.   I clench my teeth and determine that NEXT YEAR I’M GOING TO DO… (fill in the blank) and I make a list that no human could possibly accomplish in three lifetimes! 

This year, I’m trying to be very realistic and plan two or three things that are DOABLE for me at this stage of my life.  As a career woman with a lot deadlines, pressure and responsibility, I seem to  think that I should be able to do everything I can think of.  I would love to have a Thanksgiving feast for those around us that won’t have one without our inviting them.  I would love to be able to throw an awesome Christmas party,  bake cookies, keep a perfect house, make trays of cookies for my shut in neighbors, make my own Christmas cards (including a fabulously funny, informative and touching famlly news letter) and perhaps add to that going to a rest home to sing Christmas carols!  But my time, energy and resources are limited, not to mention that I wasn’t capable of all that when I was young and energetic, let alone at 49!!!

But what CAN I do to make our family holiday season special?  Special for my family is taking time to make a trip in to see a special Christmas display of lights.  It might be catching a great holiday movie if there’s a Narnia movie or something similar coming out this year.  It might be inviting a couple of friends over for a relaxing evening together, or perhaps a cookie exchange.  One thing I enjoy tremendously is making a gift(s) that are specially chosen for each person, this year it will probably be some more scrapbook pages for my girl’s scrapbooks.

I intentionally scheduled the Christmas Card Crop on December 1st so there’s no excuse for me not getting my cards done and out early!  By doing that I’ll create a few Christmas cards for Daisie company and pick my favorite to use for our family instead of waiting until the last minute as usual and stressing over it.  The most important thing for me to remember so that I enjoy the season is to stop and enjoy what we DO DO instead of agonizing over what we WON’T be able to do.  As always, it’s a matter of my attitude about the holidays that will make them special or stressful.

What do you enjoy of the holidays and what do you do because it’s expected of you?  Do you really enjoy being with your extended family or is it a painful experience of disappointment year after year?  Do you spend time doing what others expect of you or do you have the joy of doing what you enjoy for your holidays?  If you take time now to think through and map out what you want your celebration to include (before the pressure from your family begins to build) you might be able to have more control over what your schedule and plans for the season looks like.  If you make your plans early (and stick to them) you might be able to say, "Oh, I’m sorry we won’t be able to attend _______ we already have other plans" rather than stammering, stumbling and giving in to an activity you dread and will find no joy in! 

I’ve already started to take a little time this year to reflect on what I really enjoy about the holidays.  I’m making my focus doing two or three of those special things.  With our new grandson coming in late January, we’ll be traveling to our daughter’s house for the holidays, rather than them coming up to see us.  Since we haven’t been to San Diego during Christmas for four years we’ll have the opportunity to do some "traditional" family events.  We’ll go to the Hotel Del Coronado for our traditional viewing of their Christmas tree and the lights on the hotel and we’ll go see "Christmas Card Lane" in Penasquitos where there is an amazing giant lawn display fo Christmas Cards and lights. If we accomplish these two activities and enjoy each other on Christmas morning it will be a perfect Christmas!   All in all , I plan to relax and enjoy my family and meditate on what is really important about this season.  How about you?  Now’s a great time to start thinking about it and making your plans!