This time of year it is so easy to get overwhelmed by all of the things on my To Do List. I have decided that this is the year that I am going to do all of the things that bring me joy. I think you should, too.
Seriously, letting go of all of the “have to’s ” has been so freeing. I know that things will happen if they are meant to happen and I have given myself a pass on doing every single thing that I “think” I need to do.
Allowing myself the opportunity to only do what I want to do has changed my entire attitude this year. I have let go of the stress and expectations and am happily doing all the things that bring me joy.
Baking cookies has always been a huge part of my Christmas tradition. Some of my earliest memories are making cookies with my mom. We would make batches upon batches of different kinds to give to friends. That was a tradition that I have continued through the years – even during Covid I tried to bake a few to give to people who would feel okay about receiving them. One of the first kinds that both my sister and I make are Peanut Butter Blossoms. They always taste really yummy. I love that I have her handwritten recipe.


So I have happily made 11 kinds of cookies to share with others and each one has love baked into it.
Some of the other things that I have decided and convince Chris that we need to do this week I will be sharing later. We went to the Grove Park Inn to see the Gingerbread House Display which was amazing. We are headed to the NC Arboretum for their Winter Lights display and that is one thing that I can’t wait to see.
Thursday night we are going to a small holiday gathering with some friends and then to a performance of The Messiah. I have great childhood memories of attending Messiah concerts with my Daddy. I may have only gone to two with him but I remember how lovely it was and how that music always makes me feel. My sister still has his libretto and I have found programs in my mom’s scrapbooks from where he sang in various presentations of it. When I found a local performance I bought tickets immediately.
Saturday is Mr. Diamond’s birthday so we have a nice dinner out planned and will spend the day doing whatever it is that he wants to do. He has taken such good care of me this holiday season- knowing that it is a tough one- and I am so grateful to him because he is willing to do these things to help keep my joy level up.
What are you doing this season to fill your life with joy? I would recommend letting go of some of those things on your To Do List and exchange them for things that bring a smile to your face.
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Leave a commentHi BethAnn! Love your idea of bringing joy this season! Our 11 grandkids bring so much joy to our lives. This weekend, I am doing a special Grandma outing with 3 of the younger girls, ages 5, 5, and 8. We are making cutout cookies during the day, going out to dinner, and then taking them to our local Nutcracker presentation. I bought them each a Nutcracker ornament as a remembrance. Then a cousin sleepover at our house. They grow up so fast, I want to try to make time for making special memories of joy for all of us. ❤ Happy birthday to Chris and have a very blessed and joyful Christmas!
I’m working on that. Letting go and doing things that bring me joy. Baby steps…
I absolutely love the handwritten recipe card! What a delight!!! So glad to hear that you’re letting go of some “duties” and focusing on what truly brings you joy! That is great advice for all of us! Thanks so much for sharing this!
Joy to your world! Right now, we are on our way to Florida, taking our younger son with us for 12 days of sun and relaxation!
I love the handwritten recipe card with little smudges on it. I have recipes my mom wrote and I love seeing her writing and it brings back memories. Our grandsons are coming next week to make cookies. Each year I tell them that less decorations are better, each year I fail! Totally agree on letting things go that bring on stress, chances are no one will know if we didn’t do some of the “things” at Christmas.
You are right on with this. Must nourish that little ember of joy within our souls that seems to wane under stress and sadness.Yet it’s really still there. I love Christmas time, but being a “pleaser” I find this time of year stressful because I feel there are so many expectations of me, and just not enough time. I have probably placed this burden upon myself. Doing a bit less this year, as I feel we’d all be happy just to spend a few days together, instead of getting a lot of gifts, etc. I love your mother’s recipe card – I, too, have some of my mother’s. While baking is not my forte, I love my mom’s and grandmothers’ recipes and Carl & kids make their cookies every year.
I am so happy for you this year. It can be overwhelming this time of year. Chuck and I have slowed down a lot & and enjoying every minute. We have found so much peace oin celebrating the reason for the season..
I just made Peanut Blossoms yesterday and guess what? Same exact recipe you use! 🙂
My joy today was seeing my dear mom. Seeing her smile. My joy next week is welcoming my son home from Indiana. I haven’t seen him since May. These are my joys today and next week.
Wonderful! I am so
Happy for you.