Rush of the Season

Rush of the Season

The holiday season is a grand time for traditions and customs. Over years some of them become part of the bedrock routines that make the season special. Such established practices are a key ingredient of the mortar that binds holiday memories together into a cherished whole. Giving them up, or even altering them too much could tamper with fond memories of past holidays and dim anticipations for seasons to come. 

Conversely, some traditions and customs gradually turn into duties, obligations, and expectations, with their own pressure-to-perform frustrations. They’re repeated year after year just because, “That’s the way we’ve always done it,” or because no one has bothered to look at them in years. When that’s the mentality that perpetuates them, it’s not hard to imagine that they’ll eventually outlive their charm and appeal. When they do, it may be time to reconsider them.  

It’s all too common to hear family and friends comment about how hectic and rushed the holiday season can be. Some organizations have moved their holiday party to January, just because of that annual rush. If you have a hurried sense of the season and you enjoy it, stop reading at this point.  If the words “rush” or “hectic” are in your current thoughts and anticipations, keep reading.

Questions Concerning the Rush of the Season

1. Do I have a tendency to overdo? 

            She always did. Her Christmas Eve cookie table was amazing, with more than 20 different varieties.  But over the years, it became time consuming and wasteful. A few years ago she cut back to a half dozen of everyone’s favorites for Christmas Eve. The money and time she saves, she now donates at a homeless shelter, where her cookies have taken on a whole new meaning!

2. Am I keeping up with the times?

            He wasn’t.  In his effort to make the holidays special for his children, he built a great deal into the season. Trips to a farmer’s field at night to feed Santa’s reindeer, nightly readings of “The Night Before Christmas,” and the same tree decorations year in and year out were part of his routine.  They’re now cherished memories. He realized that as families grow, there needs to be room for each generation to make their mark on the holidays, to build their customs, and create their traditions. He now enjoys theirs.

3. Do I overcommit?

            Although she wasn’t a total FOMO (person with the Fear Of Missing Out), she was dang close. Over the holidays, the word “No” wasn’t in her vocabulary. There wasn’t an invitation or request for involvement she’d turn down. As her five children became more involved in school and related activities, the holidays turned from a jog into a sprint. Enjoyment gave way to exhaustion. When she came to the realization that holiday weeks have seven days and holiday days had 24 hours, just like the rest of the year, she began setting a reasonable schedule for herself and her family.

4. Do I know how to receive?

            He was generous, almost to a fault. He wasn’t rich, but he liked sharing what he had. What he wasn’t so good at was receiving.  He was comfortable with the warm feeling that comes from giving, sharing, and showing kindness.  But when someone showed him generosity and thoughtfulness, he wasn’t much of a receiver.  Instead, he was thinking how he could pay back what someone was doing for him. 

            The phrase, “a cheerful giver” changed his attitude about receiving. That happened when he realized that for there to be cheerful givers, there has to be cheerful receivers. When he became a better receiver, the generosity he always wanted to see in the season became a shared opportunity.

5. Can I find peace during the holiday season? 

            Sure you can. It may not be perfect peace, but it can certainly be more peaceful. Here are some simple suggestions. 

             – Forgive someone, and that someone can be yourself. Get past something that’s been troubling you. Let go of a setback, a slight, or a grievance; move on.  

            – When you feel yourself overdoing, take a break. Be open to new opportunities, new possibilities, and what others can help you build into the enjoyment of the holidays. 

            – Instead of being a FOMO, relax and engage in the holidays at a comfortable, meaningful, and enjoyable pace.

            – Hold onto cherished memories, be open to new possibilities and opportunities, and welcome the holidays in a way that embraces you and those with whom you share the season.  

            – Remind yourself of the reason for the season. Let it be part of how you celebrate, and let it be at the very heart of why you celebrate!

Have a grand holiday season!