Feeling frantic before Christmas? Why do we do this to ourselves?

When did New Year 2015 turn into 63 Days until Christmas? There was a time when the end of October signalled to me that it’s time to:

• buy Christmas Cards so I can mail them on 1 December;
• invite dozens of people to drop by at Christmas, then order enormous quantities of food just in case they did;
• clean all the cupboards, just in case some of those guests opened one and found out it was a mess;
• get GOM painting all the areas I thought looked shabby;
• take down and wash curtains (just in case the “guests” noticed they hadn’t been washed since they were here last year);
• put myself into debt for presents “in case someone brought one for me”;
• totally renovate the bathroom so it looked nice;
• ditto to the garden so the guests could sit outside;
• organise numerous Christmas parties for the company who employ me;
• attend so many parties between November and the middle of December that my liver was pickled and I don’t even drink;
• finally arriving at Christmas morning thanking my stars, that this so-called “holiday season” was almost over.

Frantic – Not Me!

Certainly, there are things I planned to finish before another year came around; things such as bringing about world peace – perhaps if I make that Christmas 2,000,015 I may have a shot! However, there are things I can do to achieve a modicum of peace; Let go of old grievances, Say sorry, Thank you, Can I help? It may not change the world, but it will change my immediate world. This I can achieve before Christmas.

I love my garden and planned this year to do a little landscaping; even went as far drawing up a plan and buying the logs to create the garden beds. Once these were created, I would use the replaced materials to reinvigorate my veggie patch. I also decided to have my own version of a living wall on one side of our outdoor area, creating some privacy, but also colour and life.

Well, the living wall is up and partially planted – finishing it is a possibility before 25 December. The logs for the garden are aging nicely, but the garden beds aren’t built. The veggie patch can’t be completed until I complete the flower beds, so maybe I’ll just change the date on this one!

I am a Christmas tragic and plan my decorations each year so that on 1 December I turn on the lights and the decorations stay until Twelfth Night (6 January).  I have a feeling that this year, the decorations may be limited to a few favourite items – there is so much going on in my life at present that putting aside the best part of a month to decorate is just not on the cards – pun intended!

Now there was a time when the above would have mocked me, now I look at what has made life wonderful this year:

• We welcomed a new baby, another great-nephew.
• Hubby had a heart operation which has given him a better quality of life.
• I took on a new career. Actually two new careers, one regular part-time and the other on a relief basis.
• Had time in Sydney with old and new friends, including the 50^th Anniversary of leaving school with my Leaving Certificate in 1965.
• Met friends for lunch every month.
• One reason I won’t finish my decorations is that we are going to Perth for a very special family celebration at the beginning of December.
• Did two online courses; one on Country Houses in English Literature the other on Cultural Awareness.
• Date nights have been added to our lives, frequently a movie on half price Tuesday. When I write it down, I’ve had a pretty good year!

Why get ulcers trying to finish in 63 days what has eluded me the other 300 days? The world really won’t self-destruct if my cupboards are not photo shoot worthy; the garden looks wonderful just as it is and the curtains will have to wait! I have a life to live.

The best thing about “the getting of wisdom” is learning to be kind to yourself – you deserve kindness as much as anyone.

So share – are you getting frantic about Christmas? Will you get “everything” finished before Christmas and does it matter if you don’t?

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