We forget that our sanity is dependent on a relationship with longer, more patient cycles extending beyond the urgencies and madness." –David Whyte
Every year, the Monday morning after Thanksgiving slams into me like a crashing car, causing panic and frenzy. I’m pretty sure that I’m not alone in this.
Christmas is only 3 weeks away!
I’m in California all of next week--I won’t make any progress on my holiday stuff!
It’s so busy right now—I’m not getting my work done!
I’ve only bought two presents, and everything is out of stock!
This year, when I felt that Monday pit in my stomach, my first inclination was to accelerate to break-neck speed with my break-neck anxiety in tow. Like I do every year.
But something stopped me. Maybe it is all the Positive Intelligence work that I have been doing over the past year. Perhaps it was the thought of my daughter, on an extended holiday break, entertaining herself on her device, with no other plans for the day.
I paused.
I’m fighting back. Something needs to be different this year. No more will I rush through December, only thinking about the finish line.
So, I asked my daughter if she wanted to go to Panera for lunch. She gave me a huge smile, thrilled that I wanted to spend this time with her.
And I thought about the David Whyte quote, which had resonated so much with me that I kept it to read again. “We forget that our sanity is dependent on a relationship with longer, more patient cycles…”
Over the next thirty-one days, I’m going to do things a little differently than in seasons past.
I will respect my limits. I’m lowering my expectations of myself this year. I am forgoing Christmas cards. And the visiting family can handle the fact that my laundry room has halfway ripped down wallpaper.
I will do my best to stay in the moment. My daughter has an out-of-town horse show this weekend. I’m not going to bury my head in my computer when she is not riding. Also, I love wrapping presents. Rather than making it a chore and racing through like I’m in some “fastest present wrapper” competition, I will enjoy this time
I’ll look for new reasons to be grateful. For many years, I spent the last month of the year begging bookstores to place orders to make my sales number. Thankfully, I’m no longer a December bookstore manager stalker.
I’ll laugh. I’ll watch Bad Moms Christmas and the Christmas card grammar police video.
And, when the panic feelings show up (because they will), I’ll acknowledge them. I will try to laugh at myself and move on, more slowly, with my imperfections.
And everything will get done. It always does. How will you make December a little easier on yourself?