People. Tradition.

So it’s 8am on the Friday before Christmas, as I write this. I have a full cup of coffee, but not for long. My wife’s in the other room, likely finalizing the list of what must be done today, in preparation for the holiday weekend.

This is the calm before the storm, in other words.

So much about the holiday season is discussed in terms of storms, chaos, losing ones’ mind… It’s amazing that most of us still look forward to it, year after year, whatever form it may take for you, my reader. And it really IS amazing.

Think about it. No, really, think about it for a moment.

I need more coffee. I’ll be right back…
…Cup is full again, and came with a small plate of cookies.

Oopsie.

For the vast majority of us, no matter our cultural and spiritual affiliations, December is a busy month.And we are already a busy people. And yet, here we are again.

“Once more unto the breach, dear friends….”  

– William Shakespeare, from Henry V

I blame people, and tradition. We tend to like people. And we value our traditions.

When we have the opportunity to combine the two, we determine that it’s well worth the… hassle.

So I will finish this and my 2nd cup of coffee, and begin cleaning diligently. My wife’s already started prepping food for tomorrow’s family gathering. We are doing this on… not nearly enough sleep, because we were at a very nice party last night with a bunch of people, friends that were simply happy to be there, and to be celebrating the season with each other. We all spoke of our own chaotic plans and crazy schedules, and we did so with joy because of what the chaos and craziness brings us.

People.

Tradition.

This is a re-print of an article I wrote for Stridepost, two years ago.   Re-publishing here with permission.

Christmas thoughts 2017

Coffee is gone (parting is such sweet sorrow)

Laundry is started

Mouse traps are placed (little $%^^& had a loud party in a vent by my bed, at 2a this morning...)

I'm sitting at my dining room table, looking out the window at the snow covered fields, and thinking about my life, and about the holidays.

This year, I'm trying something new.   I'm just going to embrace all things christmas, without reservation.    I know we all have our role to play, and mine's traditionally been that of a good-hearted curmudgeon, but... not this year, baby.

You want to listen to christmas music, and it's the day BEFORE Thanksgiving?  No problem, sweetie.  

Turn that shit up!

"Is there christmas music somewhere on the radio?" she asked the other night, on the way to a riding lesson.    

"I don't know.  But I'll find out while you're riding." 

Which involved rifling through the owner's manual, as I've not used the radio since I bought the car, relying almost exclusively on my iPhone for music and podcasts.   

Once educated on the details of working my car's stereo.... there are TWO local radio stations playing christmas music, and I've programmed BOTH of them in.    

So, yeah, working at the whole "just say yes / enthusiasm" thing this year.

Because.... I really need to.     It's part of me simply trying to be a kinder, more empathetic person, all the time.   Or at least... a lot more often.     

I've been re-visiting some of the good takeaways from a Dale Carnegie class, of late.    

Something that's stuck with me since I took the class, out of desperation of an un-fixably toxic work situation almost three years ago.  

You decide how you're going to act and re-act to other people, and ultimately, how you'll look at life and the world around you.    You get to make that choice, every single time.   The goal is to do it with enough frequency and consistency that it becomes the norm, not a novel experiment.  Like anything else worth doing, you practice and train to get better...

Being mindful enough, in the moment, to make the decision, instead of automatically reacting, is the tricky part.

And while I'm not there yet, I'm gaining.    

Insert dialog from Bill Murray's speech at the end of Scrooged, here.   

Life is never... boring.   Seems you get right on some levels, and something else happens that you were not expecting.   There's always SOMETHING that will appear on the scene to trip you up, and keep you down.        

But it's still Christmas.    It's still a time that's very important to those I love and who are important to me, and because of that - I shall not pee in the holiday punch any longer.       

I will play christmas music when noone is around to see me do it.

I will say "yes", more.    

I will embrace all of it, to the best of my ability.

I will be a better man for having done so.  

So, yeah.    My christmas thoughts this year.     Take the time to practice NOT letting the bad things guide your choices.   Appreciate what you DO have, instead of lamenting what you do not.

Play christmas music, without reservation.     

Turn that shit up.