Christmas Terrors
This week’s topic is “What makes the holidays difficult and why?” I should rewrite it to say, “Why do I make the holidays so difficult?” All year long, I know that Christmas is coming. I know that I will be working and trying to juggle the activities of preparing for the holidays, yet I do everything else and leave the boxing, wrapping, and food tasks to the last minute.
I read all the ideas in “Real Simple” Magazine and “Magnolia.” They all sound good and doable, but I don’t follow their directions. I think the most difficult thing for me is knowing what each of my special people wants for their gifts. If I could get a Christmas list for each of them by December 1, I could get started and stay on a roll.
The other thing that makes holidays difficult for me is decorating takes forever. The outside decorations always have to be done when it is freezing cold. Working all day, I find myself doing this decorating at night when it is even colder.
The indoor decorations are more fun and yet very physical. They need to be brought up from the basement to the main floor. The bins are heavy and my ability to carry them up and down the stairs has diminished over time. I’d like to be able to wiggle my nose and have them transported from one place to the other.
The Christmas Tree is another task that I have a love/hate relationship with. I find it harder to gather those I want to accompany me to select our tree. Everyone has a different schedule with different obligations. They still want to be included in picking out the tree. We also have fewer lots in Beaver Dam so this project means traveling out of town.
I must be honest and say this is one of the times when I really miss my husband. He used to share the duties like doing the outside decorating and the biggie for me, which is putting the lights on the tree. I am trying to convince myself that an artificial tree would be fine and yet it just doesn’t work for me.
When I am feeling stressed at any time during the year, I have the same dream. It is Christmas morning. I am having the whole family over to celebrate, and I am panicked. I have no food in the house, no presents and there is no way to fix this dilemma. I have this dream over and again, any time I am running behind on my responsibilities. PTSD about Christmas? Ridiculous.
I think the answer to why the Holidays are difficult is that my time planning and lack of decision-making get in the way. I love the holidays. I love getting together with my family. I get angry with myself for being slow and putting off the important tasks. It is early in December so this is my year to adopt new habits and take some of the pressure off the holidays. Make a plan, work the plan, build some downtime into the plan, and most of all enjoy the reason for the season. Merry Christmas to everyone and may 2025 be the best year ever.
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