For most of us when we were younger, the holidays brought excited giggles and bright smiles and eyes shining with wide-eyed wonder. :
But for many reasons, the holiday season can be difficult as we grow up. A partner or a sibling is no longer with us. Our children have grown up and moved away or are celebrating with their spouse’s family with health issues and don’t want to go out and deal with snow, crowds and traffic.
We are alone.
It’s just too much work
And sometimes, even if we’re not alone, we lose our luster and enthusiasm for decorating the halls, stuffing our stockings, and reliving all those memories are work.
“I won’t put up a tree this year,” declared one of the friends.
“I’ll be glad to get back to normal after the holidays,” said another woman.
“I’m so done with Christmas,” I heard another say.
For decades, we’ve made December such a big deal, stressing over presents, baking, cards, and social obligations that the holidays have lost their magic, whether we’re alone or not.
So here are some ideas of what you can do to enjoy or survive December, when you’d rather fast forward and change the calendar to January do…
What can you do to enjoy the holidays?
- Bake cookies or brownies or buy treats at the market and deliver them to the local fire station.I defy you not to smile when you get back to your car after going out.
- Pick up a gingerbread house kit at the grocery store, Target, or Costco and spend an afternoon decorating it.
- Make a cup of hot chocolate, the real kind, with cocoa powder and milk and top it with marshmallows.
- Light a candle. Read or listen to a a guilty-pleasure book. I adore a fun, heartwarming, predictable holiday romance.
- Add a splash of egg to your coffee, yes, even at 6am
- Make plans to attend a church holiday concert. it doesn’t matter which church you go to.
- Make a dinner you’ve never made before. Freeze leftovers. Or save them for the next night.
- Enjoy the taste of holiday ice cream!
- Pour a glass of wine, curl up on the sofa and turn on a holiday movie.
- Buy a small rosemary tree at the grocery store or Costco.Light it up during the day, too.
- Set your table (or wherever you eat) with a scale, a cloth napkin, and a nice dish.
- Make yourself a mocktail or cocktail.
- Drive around the neighborhood to view the holiday lights.
- Buy an amaryllis or paper white plant to nurture during December.
- Choose one place in your city to visit during the holidays.Museum, park, library, etc. Spend the afternoon wandering around.
- Play holiday music at home.
- Call a friend.
- Get a manicure or paint your nails.
- Visit a local bakery and purchase a special holiday bread, muffin or pastry to enjoy with your morning coffee or tea.
Hopefully you’ll think of other things to add to this list. As I’ve learned, it’s easier to keep going. One thing will lead to another, and another, and another…
I hope you find something on this list that fills your heart this holiday season.
Share your thoughts.
Are you still excited about the holiday season? What new or festive things can you do this year?
