I’m very much looking forward to a relaxing holiday this year.

In previous years I’ve let all the hustle and bustle of this time of years stress me out, but lately I realized that instead of anticipating this season with joy, I had begun to dread it’s arrival, so I stopped. It really was as simple as that. I pared down Christmas to its basic level–a nice dinner with family, some presents under the tree for my son and warm well wishes and a basket of cookies for everyone else (who really don’t need me to bring them a gift in any case).

The decorations still went up, but I didn’t worry if the entire ceramic village, complete with lights and fake snow, didn’t get put out on the fireplace mantle or the lights on the house didn’t make it up. A tree glistening from our front window with lots of lights and our homemade crafts is enough to let people know that we are celebrating the holiday.

Why?

I just don’t have the time. I used to tell myself that it was important to set everything else aside and focus on the holiday for my son’s sake, but in reality I just can’t do that. That’s not to say I don’t spend time with my family for Christmas, or that I lock myself away completely to work, but I have obligations and I’ve learned that the stress of overloading myself with added responsibilities isn’t worth the heartache.

I did, however, do my very best to make sure that my book was finished by the end of last week so that THIS time now would be for the family and for Christmas.

And now I shall be able to enjoy it because not only is my work finished, but I’ve kept the holiday simple and straightforward enough that there’s no guilt about what can’t be done.

I hope that everyone else has a wonderful holiday, whatever you do to celebrate. And time for relaxation and kicking back with nothing more to do than watching the kids play, baking some cookies, or reading a good book!

J.K. Coi
www.jkcoi.com