Life has been a bit stressful lately but I am determined to keep the joy in Christmas. I almost let my joy be taken away from me last week but I rallied and changed the direction and I am happy to say I have my joy back. I bet I am not alone in struggling with keeping all things joyful this December.
We are assaulted on all sides by so many different things that threaten to steal our joy and the busyness of this time of year always seems to weigh on me. There are always so many things to do and I think it creeps up on me and I tend to think that I have to do it all.
Well, guess what? I don’t and I won’t!
My problem this year has been dreading this week because Chris and I are in Alabama spending our last week in the house we have been renting. That means we have to do something with all of the furniture and household belongings that we collected. What that means is packing up (again) and renting a Uhaul to tote those items back to Brevard. Well, we are going to do it. Friday is the day. The house in Brevard is kind of a mess as we were moving beds and other furniture around in anticipation of this weekend.
To say I am tired of this whole moving and feeling unsettled thing would be an understatement. I did not realize how stressed out I was about this whole thing until the other day and I realized that it was seriously taking my joy away. So I had a stern talk with myself and decided that that was going to be the end of that. After all, this is my favorite time of the year and I love all that comes with Christmas. So doggone it, I am going to enjoy it.
So my strategy is to just get through this week, enjoy the time in Dothan, enjoy the Christmas party with Chris’s people, get the house packed and ready to go and just do it. Kind of like Nike I am just going to do it.
If the Christmas cards go out after Christmas it is no big deal. If the presents don’t get mailed until next week so be it. If the house is a bit dirty I can live with it.
What I can’t live with is allowing myself to get sucked into the feeling that I am overwhelmed and can’t pull myself out of that feeling. That is not what Christmas should be about.
So today be joyful. If you have allowed the busyness of the season to overtake you I suggest you step back and take a deep breath and evaluate what you can cut out to make the season a bit more joyful. Everything does not have to be perfect. Note to self: You do not have to make 15 different kinds of cookies this year.
Of course watching goats singing Christmas songs always gives me joy. I hope it does the same for you
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Leave a commentHang in there… I know how you are feeling… I have been feeling a lot of the same things. I too had to have a firm talk with myself on Friday night. Too many things have been troubling me and stressing me out. It has gotten to the point that even the minor things were making me crazy. I realized I wasn’t helping myself (I wasn’t happy and my productivity was suffering) so I totally scolded myself. Hopefully this week I can keep it all in check…
Let’s work to keep each other in check! I was really dreading a lot of things and it was driving me nuts. Chris was getting worried! So like you I had that talk with myself, (prayed a lot) and figured out a strategy to eliminate some of the stress that I was putting on myself. I can totally see that happening to you—you have a lot going on and are always on the go. Enjoy the season and find the JOY! Love ya!
I am glad I am not alone. I just have to make myself realize that sometimes I have the best of intentions but it just is not realistic. Hope this week is better for you as well!
I´m so glad you got the JOY back! Christmas is supposed to be joyful not stressful. You can always buy cookies you know. Sending joyful hugs. <3
I can always buy cookies. Or not eat them at all. The thing is that I always give tins of cookies as gifts and that is my “thing” but some years it just is not feasible. I am doing much better this week and once Friday and Saturday are done I will be WAY better!
Good reminder. Hope your moving is going as well as possible! You’ve had quite the year of transitions. This year I’m keeping it simple-gift cards, your Krackers and pretzels.
Simple is good. Simple is very good. I need to keep repeating that!
Have a MERRY CHRISTMAS Beth Ann.. Breathe deeply, keep your cool, and put the joy back in your Yule _ _ _tide..
I am trying, Jake! Thank you! It was great to hear from you and to read your latest offering on your blog earlier today. Merry Christmas!
Thank you Beth Ann. I hope that the new year will bring you the permanency that you so deserve. Merry Christmas again. Be safe.
Thank you, Jake! I wish you happiness, good health and lots of fun times in the new year !
You always have the best attitude no matter what.
Well I didn’t last week! 🙂
Praying for your transition. We have moved quite a bit as well and it is a daunting task. I am praising the Lord for renewing your spirit.
Thank you so much, Robin. I should be used to the moving and packing and traveling thing but I think I just had to get it through my thick head what was really important. I was being selfish and that is not who I want to be so I am focusing on the important things now!
Wishing you lots of joy even amidst the busy chaos. I decided a few years ago to let go of my unrealistic expectations for Christmas to be just perfect and I’ve enjoyed the season so much more because of that. What gets done, gets done. What gets baked, gets baked. And this year with my sweet grandchild here, I want to just enjoy the time with my family.
Thank you so much! I think we all just have to get to the point sometimes where we have that conversation with ourselves about what is really realistic. I am finally there. Merry Christmas!
Great reminder! Part of me is stressed because we have so many Christmas gatherings to schedule (So many we actually can’t make it to them all), basketball games, concerts, etc. I’m not doing any baking and there will be no Christmas cards from the Flints this year, but you know what? I honestly don’t care! It is what it is and I’m going to enjoy it no matter what!
You have the right attitude. I think it just overwhelmed me for a bit and then I came to my senses. 🙂
As we deal with 47 people wanting to get together while we are in Ohio for 28 days, I keep reminding myself how blessed I am to have so many people who love me!
Exactly right, Karen! It is so difficult to spread yourself out for everyone when you are back where you have friends and family but it will all be worth it! BTW, I think I need your address. 🙂
Sounds like a lot going on with you right now. But I think you’re tackling it the best way you can. I believe that we all tend to set our expectations too high this time of year.
Just keep thinking that ONE DAY you and Chris will meet Motor Man and me in the Outer Banks, and we’ll ride on the beach with the windows down and see wild horses and breathe salt air! There, feel better now?? 😉
I feel SO much better!!! It will happen in 2016!!!!
That would be great!
It is so so easy to let the busy of the Season steal the Joy we should have. I am glad that my busy is behind me. I choose things that I wanted to be involved with – whether they were work, volunteer, fun.. whatever, all with a purposeful intent so that I could hopefully be reminded of exactly why I was doing them whenever I felt over whelmed. Some things come up unplanned of course, and others just can’t be avoided; but overall the key to staying Present is to live purposefully. And as my mom says – it’s all small stuff. that’s a tough one, but I am trying on that one too.
Peace and Joy this Season!
[…] am taking a deep breath and enjoying the day today. How about you? I recently wrote a post about my struggle with keeping the JOY in Christmas this year. The struggle has been real but I am […]