Every holiday season I get so excited to do EVERYTHING. I mean it. I have this idea that there are SO MANY more hours in each day and so many more days in each week. I guess this is how my brain works for much of the rest of my life, to be quite honest. It just intensifies at Christmas because there are certain things, lots of things, that people just do at the holidays that they don’t really do any other time of the year. Some of these things can definitely be done other times of the year, like giving of oneself and volunteering, but those acts also can be specific in exactly how you do them at the holidays.

There are some things that I look forward to because they are tradition and I cannot imagine the Christmas season without them. The holiday party I throw every year is the biggest one of those traditions. Then there’s the food. There are certain foods I make every year at Christmas. Many of them my mom made before me. This makes it important to me and extra special. It gives me a connection to my mom at a time when I need to feel her presence the most. Taking a walk around the LA Salette Shrine is another tradition. It’s a great time to meet up with friends, see a gorgeous light display, and light candles for our loved ones who are no longer with us in body, but now in spirit. Also, sending out Christmas cards is a must for me. I LOVE getting mail and I know other people do too. It’s a personal connection and I believe the world needs more of that.

Some activities we just need to do because they’re fun, simply fun. We watch as many holiday movies as possible. We need to try ALL the peppermint drinks at ALL the places while they still are selling them. (Please Cape Cod Coffee, bring back that Peppermint Mocha Mudslide from last year! OMG YUM!) Then there is cookie decorating, which the kids can’t seem to live without. We’ve got to get the gingerbread houses decorated, not to mention our own houses decorated, inside and out! We can’t forget about the Christmas parade. Then there’s getting together to paint ornaments, write out cards for soldiers, take a family to sponsor for the giving tree at church… Oh and of course shopping and wrapping!!!

That brings us to the next category of things to do at the holidays: the new things. These are the activities that we either just found out about or have said we really want to try, year after year, yet somehow, we have not. I’ve wanted to see the ice castles. I’ve also heard there is a great chocolate tour not too far from us to spend a day doing.

Now it makes sense to you, doesn’t it? Why I need more hours in the day and days in the week? Or maybe just an extra day each weekend? Because I REALLY WANT TO DO ALL OF THIS!!! Is this realistic? With four kids and work and sports? With a dog and a house and cars to take care of? With groceries to buy and dinners to make? With homework to complete? I’m sure it is all possible, somehow, in some parallel universe where time stops or we can do it all over again. Maybe Michael J. Fox or Bill Murray would have some tips. However, every year, for as hard as I try, we cannot do it ALL. Trying to do it all will ruin a great holiday season and we DEFINITELY don’t want that.

One thing I do love to do is to slow down. To sit. To relax. To be present. But I sometimes forget, so this is my reminder. This is when we truly enjoy what is out there for us to experience. I have no idea how many things on our holiday “bucket list” we will actually accomplish this season. What I do know is that I will be PRESENT and MINDFUL with whatever it is that I am doing and to whomever my time is being given. We are blessed to live in a world where there is so much joy! Don’t lose that joy and the true meaning of whatever holiday you celebrate by getting caught up in the rush. Please stop, in the midst of the hustle and bustle, and take it all in, with all of your senses. We only get to live each moment once! Be IN those moments! Make those memories! Whether you love the holidays, hate them, or are somewhere in between, remember January is right around the corner. This season will fly by before you know it. YOU make it what it will be. YOU are the one responsible for creating the BEST memories. YOU are the only one responsible for YOUR JOY! I am sure I will still try to do as many of the holiday “things” that I can, but I am making a pinky promise to Santa himself to slow down and enjoy! HAPPY HOLIDAYS MY FRIENDS!!!❤️🎄🎅⛄️🤶💚