We are two weeks from Christmas day. For me, (not referring to faith elements) Dec. 25, is the day balloons begin to deflate. Parties are over, gifts exchanged, tummies overflowing, and I’m exhausted. What is usually on my mind is cleaning up the mess and restoring life to
normalcy. Christmas day brings a long whew at the end of a job well done. I’ve been told by many, visions of seed catalogs replace sugar plums as Christmas passes.

Fortunately, or unfortunately, we are not there yet; there are two more weeks. Even though I buy, decorate, and entertain much less than in previous years, I still have a long to-do-list for the upcoming 14 days. How about you? Do you double or triple your workload and budget
limits, eat more sugar, sleep less, upset daily routine, and still expect to be loving and kind to valued friends and family? I do. Can’t we do everything? Maybe we’re magicians, or just plain nuts. Perhaps we forget everyone has limits—even you and I.

It’s interesting how seasonal expectations turn one day into a month’s planning, festivities, and recovery. Tack Thanksgiving and New Years on both ends, and we are looking at nearly two months of what we call holidays. Similar to vacations, I usually need a holiday after it’s over.

My wish for everyone is to maintain some balance, the single most crucial requirement for mental wellness. It is more than okay to balance Christmas. For example, make a list, count it twice, cut it in half, and throw the bottom half in the trash. When you entertain friends, say, “I’ll
clean the house, and you bring food. Next time, at your house, I’ll cook.” Decorate your house every other year, and on the off-year, send cards. Serve ice cream bars for dessert.

Be creative—I’m sure you can balance your busy schedule and budget with ideas better than mine. The important thing is to do enough to not feel guilty. Guilt is the discrepancy between what you do and what you think you should do. Guilt is controlled in our thoughts because we have 100% control over what stays in our mind. Look in the mirror and say, “It is okay, even good, for me to do less and enjoy more. I don’t have to be exhausted and broke. It is my choice.” Give yourself permission to cut back and still enjoy the season, especially treasured traditions and time with the people you love. Isn’t that what it’s all about?

Until the next time: Live while you live.

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