‘Tis the Season

I feel like maybe the universe is trying to tell me something. I read somewhere (I have absolutely no idea where or when or by whom) that similar situations keep happening again and again because there is something we are supposed to learn or take away from it and we have not achieved it yet.

So what is the take away here? All of these set backs, most notably during the holiday season. Overtime or call back or something somewhere catches fire or someone somewhere anywhere needs to be rescued. A virus enters the household. The power goes out. There is standing water in the basement. The unexpected hits. The curveball. We have to stop and run damage control. Navigate the priority and let so many other things sit on the back burner. And we do it and it is okay. It actually even puts things in perspective and can kind of be a good thing in the long run or the bigger picture. (Maybe that is part of the lesson).

But the unavoidable result is that I feel like I am behind and thrown off. Like I have lost the week, is what I keep saying. Is that because I am managing my time wrong, and not planning for any kind of buffer or wiggle room? Am I supposed to learn to get out in front of it sooner and better and be more organized and more efficient?

Or is it that I am too ambitious to begin with?

Or that I need a little shift in priorities or something like that? I mean if you really think about it, when we miss out on things for set backs like that, we are still okay. So maybe it is not that big of a deal and there can be an adjustment there. So basically a lesson in feeling disappointment and how to manage it. 

I do feel like I focus on the negative in general in December. Because there is so much stress involved. I think I have gotten a little better at not procrastinating and planning out what I have to do and trying to chunk it down. I have also been trying to downsize and not get so carried away with the amount of gifts or money spent.

I genuinely enjoyed wrapping last week. And of course it is all worth it in the end. I am excited to bake the gingerbread cookies. I have been trying to square away most of the other things so we can make that special and not rushed or stressful. 

But I feel like I have to actively keep reminding myself to put the breaks on my brain and my heart rate and my stress. Deep breaths. And I don’t know where it all comes from honestly. I guess it is a little bit of everything. So much to do. Keep it a secret. Lots of social engagements with and without kids. Don’t forget anyone on the list. For my job in particular the grades all have to be in. But lots of loose ends to tie up first. Clean the house for company and also make it look festive but not too cluttered. And of course make room for all of the incoming gifts and toys and everything. 

Oh and don’t forget to make it magical and have fun and create core memories and also soak up every bit of it because they are only little once. And I genuinely will miss it.