|
Beanie Blog #8
December 2021 It’s okay to be crazy, just don’t let it drive you nuts!
I borrowed that from Jimmy Buffett from
one of his songs, but I think it applies particularly to December and
the holidays. Every year I say I’m going to be more organized, get my
shopping done early, and make time to enjoy the season—and every year, I
don’t.
Part of the reason for that, at least
for us women, is that traditionally women make Christmas happen. We do
most of the shopping, the cooking, the baking, the decorating, the
wrapping, and the big holiday dinner. But now with women working full
times jobs for decades now, yet we are still trying to do it all on top
of our jobs. No wonder we’re tired! I’m not bashing men—I’m stating a
fact that you can google any day of the week and find article after
article addressing this phenomenon. One example is gift giving—the first
time many men see what gift they are giving to a family member is when
it gets opened. The wife bought it and wrapped it. If you’re lucky, like
I am, your husband will be a partner in the holidays and not an
observer.
Why do we get so busy during the
holidays? It’s not just shopping or baking, it’s the fact that every
single school in America decides to have a holiday event—a band concert,
a Christmas play, a dance recital, the list goes on—so on top of all the
other things we must find time for, we must also keep a schedule with
the precision if a brain surgeon to be all those places without burning
out. Your kids, your grandkids, your nieces and nephews all want you to
be there, so you do your best to attend but inside you’re getting
holiday burn-out.
So, what’s the solution? There is none.
Double up on vitamins, get enough sleep, and hope that your motor won’t
quit running before the season is over! December is listed as the
busiest month of the year by every poll ever taken and unless you want
to eliminate something from the season, all we can do is have a sense of
humor about it and do the best we can.
One example I can share with you is a conversation I had with my husband
last night. I want to take the train to Chicago and spend the day in
that beautiful city adorned in amazing holiday cheer. The lights in the
city during the holidays are worth the trip alone. So, I asked my
husband when we could go. He grabbed the calendar and started bouncing
out dates. No, that one doesn’t work, he must play Santa on that day.
No, the other one doesn’t work because we have hockey tickets. No,
another one doesn’t work because it’s my mom’s 92nd birthday. The only
weekend left was Christmas Day, and nope, that won’t work either. What
to do? I guess we will go after Christmas if it’s not on my son’s
birthday, the 29th. There are only so many days in December
and most of them are booked with some event or commitment.
In closing, don’t let the craziness
drive you nuts. Take it as it comes and stop each day for just a moment
to let the season in….and enjoy that moment….because in five minutes we
have to be somewhere else! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of you! I wish you all joy, peace and love for 2022. And I hope you all get planners for Christmas! I hear they come in handy during December.
Warmly, Sabina (Beanie) Boston
|