Blue Christmas

I’m often amazed that, on December 26, you can already find Christmas trees in the garbage or at the curb. 

It’s unfortunate that we build Christmas up, planning and preparing so much that we miss most of the season, and then once that day passes, we’ve moved on to the next thing.

It’s a little sad, to me at least, that there are plenty of people who are like this:

I know I caught myself doing this, and I fought it as best I could.  I didn’t want to miss Christmas while I was too busy getting ready for it, only to pause to catch my breath the day after, realizing I’d missed it.  Again.

I know some who spend so much time getting ready for it, that when Christmas finally arrives, they’re worn out, and the next day (and for days after), they have almost a post-partum depression.

And this doesn’t only apply to Christmas.

I think we all spend so much of our time preparing and planning for the next big thing, that we miss out.  We’re so focused on getting to tomorrow that we miss today.

And then we feel bad, or guilty, about missing so many today’s that we don’t enjoy the tomorrow we were striving for.

I wish I had an answer to give you, some one-size-fits-all solution.  But we’re all different, and our circumstances our different, and what works for me may not even apply to you.

I can tell you what I’m going to do today, and maybe you can use it or alter it for yourself.

I’m going to slow down.  I’m going to turn off this laptop, the Internet, Facebook, Twitter, etc.  I’m going to enjoy our tree, and listen to Elvis.  I’m going to go out later with my wife, drive through Starbucks for hot chocolate, and ride around looking at the lights.

The Twelve Days of Christmas actually come AFTER Christmas, so it isn’t too late.  You haven’t missed it.

It isn’t too late.  You haven’t missed your life, either.

I hope you have, and continue to have, a very Merry Christmas, and the Happiest of New Years!