December - is all about the crazy (and stopping it!)

This post goes out to people who don’t love Christmas!
Christmas! Christmas! Christmas!
Eggnog, mince pies and joyful carols.
Gift demands and over drinking the Baileys demands.
Forced happiness and tight, raspy breaths
as you look at your list of to dos,
while icing 6,000 cookies for your neighbourhood exchange
& where is that damn elf?
Phew!
This time of year isn’t easy
and it can be extra hard when
it sharpens our focus on the people we miss,
the people who used to be near,
the Christmases we used to have.
The pull of family is so strong
and that can bring it’s own sadness,
stress, and disappointment.


Early December is the perfect time to sit and think.
What does Christmas mean to me?
Now, before you get swooped up in the should’s,
the expectations, the demands,
sit on that comfy armchair and place those feet firmly on the floor.
Ground yourself. Close your eyes. Listen to your thoughts and your answers.
Note the ones that say…at Christmas I like to …,
Not the ones that say…at Christmas I should be, or have to or must…
At Christmas I like to.
You like to what? Write that down. Maybe you have 3 things, maybe more.
It won’t be a lengthy list. It will be the precious things
and it is those precious things that are going to set your mood for the season.
If you are sharing your Christmas with other people (little or big) ask them too.
What is their favourite thing to do? Let them choose a thing to add to your list – is it still looking manageable? Great!!
This is your master list – this is how you decide your future yes’s and no’s.
Is it on the list? Yes – great – check it off?
Is it on the list, no? Sorry no can do this year!
A master list for the season could really help manage the season,
maybe even enjoy it. Ho Ho Ho.

Wishing you all a truly happy holiday!

November - is all about the sleep

I can still remember the first time
I stole some time for a nap.
It was a warm day outside,
I was pregnant with my second child.
Child #1 was out playing with his Dad.
I was tidying up his bedroom
when suddenly his bed called my name.
I slowly lay down.
The window was wide open.
A light breeze drifting through
bringing sounds of happy play.

I’ll just lie down for a minute
my sensible, guilty brain said.
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm
my naughty brain murmured.
It felt so nice to hang onto
the stillness of my body.
Outside sounds slipping
further and further away.
Gently I was drifting off.
That beautiful moment
between awake & asleep.
A few seconds of awareness
that felt like heaven.

I go through phases now of nap time stealing.
“I’m just going to fold the laundry.”
Totally nap.
“I might go and have a little read.”
Nap.
My husband suddenly piping up “where is mummy?”
SNORE.
Sometimes life of course does not permit such whimsical loveliness.
Those moments when I can though are pure hmmmmmmm.

See if you can steal away a little time for yourself this month of November.
Feeling guilty? No, understand that you are just balancing out the tiredness from the year and prepping yourself for … well you know what the next month is to come! Dun, Dun Dunnnnnn.
So do it now. Take the rest you need – just a month of mini-hibernation just for you.