A Note for Late December
We're just 6 days away from Christmas and only 2 days from Winter Solstice. I'm at that point in the season where I've realized I simply can't do everything I set out to do and I have to (uncomfortably, begrudgingly) accept that. Every December I set out with grand plans to do it all: bake every recipe I've bookmarked, watch every Christmas movie, do all the activities around the city, shop at all my favourite stores, attend and host all the parties. I have list after list in a folder on my Notes app called "Christmas Fun", that eventually turn into stressful to-do lists, having the complete opposite effect I was striving for. At the beginning of the month, it all sounds so exciting and "magical". I think as adults (especially those without kids maybe?) we're constantly chasing that nostalgic magic we experienced growing up and if we just try all the things, eventually we will feel it. It doesn't help that we are inundated with perfectly curated highlight reels of other peoples' holidays and we can't help but compare our own to theirs. I'm 100% guilty of this, and on both sides of the coin. Its funny, I set out to write this blog post and retroactively date it to the beginning of December and to talk about all of the things I was looking forward to this month. Talk about performative and inauthentic content. So instead here I am talking about how I once again attempted to overdo it this month. One practice I have been trying that has helped is rather than listing out or looking over all the things left to do, create and come back to a list of all the things I have already done. The brain loves lists, especially completed ones, and so I encourage you to try it if you're also feeling overwhelmed. And it doesn't have to include big, impressive activities. It could simply be enjoying a cup of tea with my dog on my lap (something I do a lot of). So with that, here is my completed to-do list with a mix of "impressive activities" but also the smaller, everyday moments:
Christmas Completed To-Do List:
1. Festive drinks with friends downtown and a quick visit to the Art Gallery
2. Seeing The Nutcracker and VSO Home Along with my mother-in-law (my experiential christmas gift)
3. Picking out our tree (and having our annual squabble - IYKYK)
4. Hosting a festive brunch with friends
5. Watching old Nigella Lawson and Jamie Oliver Christmas specials
6. Putting on classical Christmas music (it's so much more calming than the big hits)
7. Decorating our home for the holidays
8. Enjoying Purdy's chocolates every night after dinner (our version of an advent calendar)
9. Making a felt ornament with friends at the community centre
10. Lots and lots of journaling to quiet my anxious, holiday crazy mind
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