Christmas Chill

As for this time of year being (as the song goes), “the most wonderful time of the year,” there is no denying, that as great as the winter holidays can be, they can indeed be filled with a sleigh full of pressure! All the money to buy all the gifts, all the traveling, all the work to make the house look pretty, all the decorations and lights that need to be put up, can really be quite the daunting holiday “to do” list. Oh, and don’t forget the tree. Yes, you must pick out just the perfect Christmas tree to display in the window! Oops, almost forgot about the house guests. Whose room will they be staying in? And of course, the holiday meal…you have to be aware of everyone’s food allergies and what to serve the vegetarians and gluten free dinner guests that might be coming.  Is it too late to find some Tofurky to add to the menu? Feeling any pressure yet?  So many things to get done in time for the big holiday, it’s almost too much to think about.  The expectations are almost too high…and that’s if you even enjoy the holidays.  And please, whatever you do, don’t get me started on whether we should use the term “Christmas” or the generic, “Happy Holidays.” That is a blog posting for another time, and I don’t believe I have enough alcohol in my home to even begin to tackle that one.

So, this year, why not tone down the expectations, even if it’s just a little bit. Besides, after what we have all been through these past couple of “COVID years,” don’t we all deserve a little easier and more relaxed holiday season? I think so.  Of course, I say that, but how can we relax, for it seems as if from the moment we wake up and check our phones, turn on the radio or t.v., we are continuously bombarded with store ads!  Why, with all the “crass commercialism” (as my dear friend Bentley used to call it) that happens this time of year, there really is no escape.  Our e mail, and smart phones are forever “blowing up” and alerting us to all of the; “Black Friday-Small Business Saturday-Cyber Monday-Door Buster-BOGO-Hot 24 Hour Only Sale(s)” that you could handle... or afford for that matter. And if you believe the “pitch man” on the radio who reminds all the guys out there to, “surprise her this year with diamonds,” don’t fall for it! Because what happens NEXT year when you remember that you got her diamonds LAST year? How do you top that? Yup, more pressure.

So, how do we open the “relief valve” on Christmas? Try to keep it simple, or at least simpler. You can do this! Let’s remember that for the past 2 years or so, that everyone has been impacted in some way by the scourge of COVID. And I mean everyone! We have lost too many friends, family, loved ones, and even co-workers. And not to mention all those who did not die from COVID, but certainly fell ill from its effects and survived. There were the “shutdowns” and business closures, supply shortages and…well, if you are reading this, you know all the problems; you were there living it one way or another. So, instead of “giving til it hurts” and trying to “one-up” the neighbor’s excessive Christmas light display, or creating the expectation of having THE PERFECT HOLIDAY, just go s-l-o-w. Trust me, nobody will get hurt with a gift or two less under the tree this year. Maybe instead of going for the perfect holiday dinner spread on the table that would make Martha Stewart proud, why not a friendly “pot luck” where everyone brings their favorite dish or wine? Besides, didn’t you get a fondue set for Christmas last year? It would be a great occasion to bust it  out.  As far as the lights and decorations on the house, it’s not a competition! The idea is to create a fun and festive atmosphere, not a traveling carnival! Think about it, we have so much to be grateful for. If you stopped for just a moment to think, I am sure you can find something that you are genuinely  grateful for this past year. Believe me, it's O.K. to have more casual Christmas. Santa will understand. So, for the good of yourself, your family, your pocket book, the Earth AND your soul… slow down and really enjoy the holidays this year.  Or how about this novel idea… maybe, just maybe, we can take a few moments from planning our next trip to the mall or clicking the “buy button” on more plastic items from Amazon, maybe we can think about the traditional, religious meaning for celebrating the holiday some of us still call Christmas.  But even if doing so isn’t your thing, that’s really fine too, no problem, you just “do you.” It will all be O.K.  See how much easier that was? No pressure. 

I wish you the merriest of Christmases, Happiest Holidays, (or insert your preferred holiday greeting here) and hope you give yourself a little bit of a break this year. You deserve it. Think of it as my gift to you. You can thank me in 2022.

Ho, Ho, Ho and all that.

I’ll see you in the groves, chillin’ of course.

-Farmer Tony