Last night we attended our city’s Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony. A local church placed cookies and hot chocolate in our freezing fingers. Carolers from a middle school choir filled our ears with Christmas words and notes. Our eyes beheld the multitude of colors and light from a park lit up with lots of Christmas lights.
It was a fun, cheerful respite sandwiched between Boy Scout functions and broken internet connections. A chance to slow down. A little reminder of the joy of the season. What parties and celebrations are on your calendar this month? We have the opportunity to attend four different Christmas parties next weekend alone! Today is the day to decide which parties, cookie exchanges, and dinners you will attend. Which ones will create fun memories for your spouse or your children?
- Work parties
- Children’s sport teams/clubs
- Church gatherings
- Local festivals
- Cookie exchanges
- Girls’ Night Out
- Breakfast with Santa
- Extended family gatherings
- Tour of lights
- Ballet or theater performances
- Christmas parades
Write them all down then prioritize them. This could be the year you say no to all of them except the opportunities with your immediate family. Maybe your coworkers are like family and you can’t wait to leave work behind and just celebrate together. It’s possible your town has Breakfast with Santa at the local library and you are trying to encourage a little one in reading. Decide today which of these functions will be part of your Christmas celebration this year. The rest don’t have to be “no” forever, just not this year.
My goal is to enjoy Christmas. That means sometimes I will add a quick, fun activity like the tree lighting ceremony despite a busy schedule. The whole family did not attend but it was a moment of focus and fun in the middle of a crazy day. That is the goal of these types of events, they should add to our Christmas joy, not detract from it. Open up the calendar, decide today which events get the privilege of being part of your Christmas season.
Then enjoy those activities, the rituals, and the people who are with you while you are celebrating.
How does your family decide which activities make the cut?
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