The Most Wonderful Time of Year?

We’ve made it! It’s the day after Christmas and I hope you were able to spend at least some of your day relaxing in your PJ’s. It is a great time of year; full of memories, family, and friends…but it sure takes a lot out of a person!

So how’d you do? They say this is the most wonderful time of year after all…you know, “with the kids jingle-belling and everyone telling you be of good cheer”. So was it the most wonderful time of year for you?

I have to admit, I absolutely love Christmas; even more so these last couple years while I’ve been enjoying my time as a stay-at-home mom. But I’ve heard the signs loud and clear from a few women I know. While Christmas is supposed to be the most wonderful time of year, we find ourselves being over-stressed and over-stretched. Where did all this hype come from? I’m sure we can all look back at our Christmases growing up and think, “They were all such quaint little gatherings back then.”

So we hear the advice time and time again, “streamline your schedules, do only what’s important, delegate, etc., etc.” but we obviously aren’t listening. Every year the bar is placed higher and higher. We definitely aren’t enjoying the holidays as much as we once did.

So here’s another approach we could take. Wouldn’t we enjoy the holidays more if we weren’t trying to jam so much into one month? Instead of Christmas being the social climax of the year, why don’t we celebrate year-round? If you think I just fell off my rocker, stick with me here…

Whoever said that holiday greetings and gay happy meetings could only happen during the Christmas holidays? I’m pretty sure 4th of July cookies would taste just as good, and I’m sure extra kindness to strangers would always be welcome.

I’m not saying forfeit the Christmas season and its traditions altogether. I’m just proposing we all take a step back, and spread it out a little more; carry it beyond the end of the year. Instead of trying to run the marathon that is Christmas, why not visit some family at Christmas, some at Thanksgiving, and some in…June? Perhaps send your donation to the Salvation Army in August instead of trying to remember your change jar in December? And couldn’t we send greeting cards in the spring?

So here it is, December 26. Are you going to plummet off the Christmas high, or are you going to carry the magic of the season into 2011? Now that I think about it, February would be the perfect time for hearts to be glowing!

Becky,
Sister of Soul

Soulspiration of the Week:
"Instead of being a time of unusual behavior, Christmas is perhaps the only time in the year when people can obey their natural impulses and express their true sentiments without feeling self-conscious and, perhaps, foolish. Christmas, in short, is about the only chance a man has to be himself.” ~Francis C. Farley

Are You Ready for Christmas?

It’s been a very consistent theme this week. Everyone you meet seems to greet you with a friendly hello quickly followed by the million dollar question, “So, are you all ready for the Christmas?” I’ve been asked that question nearly a dozen times over the past several days; I was always quick to respond with, “No, I‘m not!” And that would send me into an immediate mental review of my “What I have to do before Christmas” list.

It struck me like a brick to the head last night while watching my son’s last basketball game of the season. Sitting for over two hours my butt was numb from the hard wooden bleachers and I felt my energy dwindling by the minute. The game got a late start which set the tone for my mood that evening. I kept checking the time; getting antsier by the minute. I should be home getting things ready; checking the items off my list was all I could keep thinking about.

And, then it happened again. Another mom sitting close by leaned over and whispered, “Are you all ready for Christmas?” It took me minute to gather myself away from my pity party before I could answer her. I again responded, “No, and actually that’s what I was just thinking about.”

I was forced to snap out of it when I noticed the score was tied with only minutes left in the game. We scored, and then they scored. We got a free throw, and then they got a free throw. It was all very exciting as the game went into overtime. The boys played tough. It was a great game even though the scored resulted in a loss by 2 buckets. Not even mentioning the loss, my son was beaming; smiling from ear to ear so proud of the 7 points he had scored. What an inspiring attitude he has.

As we drove home I was still thinking about everything I have to accomplish in a matter of days. But what if I didn’t get it all done. What’s the worse that could happen? Would it be so bad if my house wasn’t all decked out with Christmas décor? Is it the end of the world if I opt for gift bags over precision wrapped presents complete with a coordinating floofy (no, that’s not a typo…floofy is a very technical term which means not quite fluffy, yet not poufy) bow?

So what does it really take to be ready for Christmas? I’m beginning to rethink my answer to that question. After all, if God wants to send his Son…. “Yes, of course I’m ready!”

Jenny,
Sister of Soul

Soulspiration of the Week:

"For onto us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9: 6

Take a Shortcut Through Your Problems

The process of self-discovery and the change that goes along with it can be a confusing journey. There are many stages and emotions throughout the process including blame, pain, avoidance, personal responsibility, blame and avoidance some more, awareness, and awakening.

I was recently introduced to the short poem below that so wonderfully simplified life’s journey. I don’t know about you, but I’ve walked down the same dangerous street myself a few too many times. Hopefully as time goes by I’ll get a little more “street-wise” and start taking that shortcut down another street through my problems.

Kim,
Sister of Soul

Soulspiration of the Week:

Autobiography in Five Short Chapters ~Portia Nelson

Chapter I:
I walk down the street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk
I fall in.
I am lost ... I am helpless.
It isn't my fault.
It takes me forever to find a way out.

Chapter II:
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I pretend I don't see it.
I fall in again.
I can't believe I am in the same place
but, it isn't my fault.
It still takes a long time to get out.

Chapter III:
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I see it is there.
I still fall in ... it's a habit.
my eyes are open
I know where I am.
It is my fault.
I get out immediately.

Chapter IV
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I walk around it.

Chapter V:
I walk down another street.

A New Self-Care Motivation

I had the most amazing “ah-ha” moment a few weeks ago while I was attending the “I Can Do It” conference in Tampa. Although I had several of these moments at the conference, I feel most compelled to share this one. I can see how it really relates to all of us as women (and especially as mothers) as we tend to fall more into the category of “giving” rather than “receiving”.

My moment of enlightenment happened during a break-out session with author, coach and speaker Cheryl Richardson. She asked the audience what seemed to be a simple question, “How many of you feel you would have had better childhoods if your own mother would have devoted more time to her personal self-care?” And the hands went up. As I looked around the room of a couple hundred people there were only a handful that did not have their hands raised.

Wow, I had never thought about it that way! When asked about self-care I’m quick to say, “Oh, yeah, that’s so important.” But I’m sure I’m not alone in that my own time seems to come last; after the cooking, cleaning, homework, laundry, care-giving, etc. My own self-care is something I do when I have “extra time”, and of course there is rarely such a thing as “extra time”. So I carry on, day in and day out, not doing the self-giving activities that would rejuvenate my patience, happiness, spirit, and overall mood.

I knew self-care was important, but never really thought it was THAT important. Now, for the first time, I’m realizing that my own self-care would contribute to my children having a better childhood. As a mother, isn’t that ultimately what I want? With all the hands raised that day the chances that my children, and your children, will feel the same way if asked that question in their adulthood seems extremely likely, unless of course we change our ways.

So here I go…I’m devoting more time for myself. Perhaps a weekly bubble bath, some time spent each evening reading or writing in my journal, date night with my husband, and maybe the kids need to take more trips to Grandma’s house. It’s about time I finally make some changes in this area. My children’s happiness depends on it!

So what do you say? Who’s with me?!

Becky,
Sister of Soul

Soulspiration of the Week:
"When you can lovingly be present to yourself, your presence to others takes on a deeper quality also.” ~MacRina Wiederkehr