This season is a little bit different. I hurt my back in January and have been struggling all year to keep up with the pace of my life. So as I prepare for something big in the new year (surgery - yikes), I have been thinking about how to enjoy the holiday season without overdoing it.
Typically I'm very good at prioritizing, but for the month of December, I like to do it all. I like to walk through San Francisco and visit all the hotel lobbies to see their Christmas trees. I like to do my Christmas shopping in person rather than online. I like to go to a Christmas concert, then go for a stroll to find a cute bar for a drink. This year, I can feel the panic rising at the idea of walking more than a few blocks.
So I've been thinking hard about how to keep the spirit alive and enjoy the lights, the decor, the music and the general merriment of Christmas in a quieter way.
I have learned something about myself through this exploration - I place too much emphasis on trying not to be a burden to the people around me. And as a result, too little emphasis on showing my true self. And I've decided the most important thing I can do for myself is to ask for help when I need it, and to say yes to help when it's offered. Both are very hard for me. When someone asks me how I am, my default is to say "great!" and when someone offers to help me my first response is usually "no, I've got it!" Then I think about how good it feels when someone in my life is honest with me about the struggles they encounter, or accepts my offer of help.
My Christmas tree is arriving on a Sunday and my friend Christopher has offered to come over on Monday and help me deck my halls. Yes Christopher! Please come and let's dress for the occasion. A season of small, meaningful moments might be just what the doctor ordered.
Whether your season is filled with festive parties, or small, quiet moments, I hope it's magical and gives you just what you need.
XX Laurie