We are officially 35 days away from Christmas! And I want to know… are you jumping for joy? Or trembling with anxiety?
As a parent, I sometimes struggle to find the true joy of the holidays amongst the high-tension stress of cookie-baking, gift buying, house decorating, credit card maxing, and meal cooking. It seems like every year, I make a commitment to myself that I will NOT go overboard- I will NOT make elaborate Christmas day themes, I will NOT bake tedious new recipes, I will NOT overspend on my friends and family. But year after year after year, I get carried away and do all the things I promised myself I wouldn’t.
Can anyone relate???
It’s so hard for someone like myself to SIMPLIFY in a world of SURPLUS. I can’t RESIST splurging on the perfect gift for someone. I can’t SAY NO to Christmas festivities that I know will be memorable for years to come.
But truly, is spending and stressing making the holidays the peaceful time I long for?
This blog is a ramble of thoughts- and unfortunately, it has no apparent answer.
I HOPE that I can take some time to BREATHE and ENJOY the tender moments with my family as we celebrate the holiest of days. I PRAY that I can find peace when my children argue with each other or find fault with their gifts.
I am at an age where every year, a child has stopped believing, or a loved one has passed. This year, no matter what, I will summon the courage to stop focusing on the trivial, and pay attention to fleeting moments of joy before they are a distant memory.
If Black Friday hits you with temptation, take in this brilliant quote from Thoreau. I hope it helps you find abundance in your LIFE, rather than a store.
Happy Thanksgiving!
for my wealth
is not possession
but enjoyment.
Henry David Thoreau
jennybeane.com 