November 08th, 2015

Thanksgiving has been for a very long time my favorite holiday.  It needs no explanation to the people who know me.  Thanksgiving is all about family gatherings, good food, and gratitude….3 things I happen to be passionate about.  Just seeing the November 1st date on the calendar gets my insides buzzing about what recipes I’ll use this year (they’d kill me if I messed with the stuffing, but I could probably sneak in a new veggie dish), which “unexpected add-ons” might share our table (that new person at my husband’s office might not have family here), and how the blessing said at our table can possibly express enough gratitude for the gifts we’ve been given. 
Shortly after this initial buzz, however, my mind starts racing toward the tasks ahead…shopping lists, invitations, table arrangements… This unnerving list of tasks naturally leads to thinking about the next set of holidays and soon I’m riding the cyclone of what inevitably becomes a season of things to do rather than a season of enjoyment.  That got me to thinking…  How can we keep focused during the holidays on the things we enjoy rather than the things we need to do?  How can we set our intentions so that we are seeking out joy rather than exhaustion? 
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Here’s my quick list:

Start with your traditions. What are the “non-negotiables” of your holiday season?  One of mine is the day after Thanksgiving.  For as long as I can remember, my sister and I have spent the day together shopping with all the other crazy people who get up at the crack of dawn.  We are gone all day and are never home before dinner.  While we’re gone, my husband and all the kids go to the movies.  It’s such a simple practice, but we have done this for so many years that we now have stories that revolve around this tradition.  The joy that we get out of our traditions is what fuels our memories and having memories is like being able to hit the “replay” button on joy.
What are your traditions?  What are you putting in place that will create a launch pad for years to come for family stories and memories?
 
Get a plan. Spend some time planning out the weeks surrounding the holidays so that you’re not trying to squeeze things in. Pull up your calendar and physically block off time for the things you need to do so that your “to dos” are scheduled in and appear as part of your daily plan.  This way you’re getting things accomplished but saving yourself from being frazzled.
 
Get intentional. What are the “want to dos” versus “have to dos” for the season?  Maybe it’s volunteering at a soup kitchen or visiting friends you rarely see; perhaps it’s reading a good book or completely unplugging from work for a few days.  Claim whatever it is and set it in motion.  For many of us, until we have a plan it’s just sort of a wish list that’s out there floating.  To really ensure your follow up, involve someone else in your plan.  This way you’ve created some accountability for yourself and raised the chances that you follow through.
 
Practice some self-care. When our schedules are packed, finding time to take care of ourselves sounds like the last thing we have time for, but try it anyway.  How we show up for anything in life is a choice.  We can chose to show up for holiday celebrations exhausted and washed out, ready to fall asleep in a corner, or we can take a little time to regroup and let the dust settle so that we show up energized and ready to participate fully.  It’s a choice.  So choose a bath, a walk, some meditation, or whatever it is that allows you to push the reset button.  You are worth it.
 
Finally, practice some gratitude. Very simply, find as many things as you can to feel consciously grateful about.  Make it part of your daily practice and I promise you that even the worst days will feel less grim.  In my experience, looking through the lens of gratitude is always an avenue to more joy, more peace, and more contentment.
 
Choose joy… and then be grateful for it. Happy Thanksgiving.