You love to wander the Christmas aisles because of those feelings of excitement, joy, and all of the nostalgia Christmastime can bring. You may even set up the tree on November 1st. But it doesn’t take long and the anticipation turns to feelings of overwhelm. The to-do list looks long, and the activities you were looking forward to now just feel like another job to check off the list.
Why is it that we can start off the holiday season with joy but within a matter of a couple of weeks things feel frustrating and overwhelming?
Perhaps it is rooted in all of the unnecessary pressure we put on ourselves during the season. We think we need to constantly compare and compete with each other and the whole internet world. And so we start making purchases and filling our calendars until our homes and activities feel like a burden.
And then there is the growing online trend of saying no. People rally the troops and are marching around proclaiming they won’t give in to the holiday commercialism. Somehow people think if they strip away everything extra then they will experience perfectly unadulterated Christmas joy. They swing the pendulum in the far opposite direction and say:
- no kid activities
- no to invitations to celebrate
- no decorating
- no gifts
But I say, what if we find a happy-medium? What if we learn to really listen to the needs of our families and also examine what brings us joy during the season?
This season I’m saying yes to:
-
Kid activities that will allow them to create joyful memories of the season.
-
Setting aside time to celebrating with those I love.
-
Enjoying the process of decorating, and being intentional about what I bring into the house.
-
Feeling thankful that I can give gifts to friends and family
How about you? Are there things you want to start saying yes to?
I love to decorate for the Christmas season, and I’m not going to skip all decorating in the quest to find true Christmas peace. But I have active kids in this farmhouse, plus a dog, and a husband. The decor has to work for all of us. And I also have a budget, so I don’t want to spend my money on Christmasy decor that I’m going to hate come next year. That’s a waste. So I find a middle ground. I enjoy the decorating because I know my end goals.
As you decorate your house for the season I want you to ask yourself: what are the feelings I want to feel when I am in my home during the Christmas season? Then you know if the purchases you make or the decorations you pull out will help create the right atmosphere.
And whether you choose to decorate the whole house on November 1st or simply put up a tree on December 24th I wish you all the feelings of joy this season.
Marlene Stephenson says
I agree with you It’s not about the gift, it’s about the love of the giver and getting. Someone said to me the other day, that they didn’t really care for Christmas cause it was so expensive and i thought then don’t spend so much. We all should enjoy Christmas and just give what you have even if it’s only a homemade cake, i’ll eat it, and enjoy every drop,lol!