Making Time for What Really Matters

It's the Holiday Season. And while we have lovely songs to sing, and parties to attend, for many this is really more of a Stress Season.  It is so easy to get wrapped up ( pardon the pun) in so many extra to do's that we fail to stop and see the lights, hug those closest to us, spend time with those we love and like or take a walk in the rain.

Instead of treating this season as "one more Christmas" or thinking this years celebration needs to look like all the ones before, perhaps this is a time for some radical adjustments or revisions.

Some families are electing to stop buying Christmas presents all together.  Others have chosen to only buy gifts for the children in the family.   Those families that are reflecting on the way they usually spend time and money this time of year, are noticing a big shift in saying no to some things so they can say yes to other more important things. 

While it may seem unheard of to not exchange gifts, consider all the time and money spent trying to find the right gifts, blowing the family budget and going into debt, or all the time spent stressing over everything being a certain way to please... who?  If an event is stressful for you then it may be time to question, do you need to attend or do the thing that is stressing you out?

Making time for what really matters means becoming  more intentional about saying yes to who and what really matters, and exercising some boundaries to say no to that which is not priority for you.

Learning that we don't have to spend every holiday in the same way "we always have" can feel very freeing.  Saying no to an invitation from an acquaintance may feel freeing also.  There are only so many days to celebrate and do all the things... how much lighter would you feel to get clarity on who and what you will say yes to, and who and what you will say no to?

If you are partnered, these will be important conversations to have together.  If the conversation begins to steer towards, "this is what you've always done", then have the honest conversation that you are reevaluating what you have always done in order to make more time and space for who and what really matters to you.

In the end, it's your health and wellbeing that matters.  If saying yes to too many things and people is stressing you out, and you are feeling like you are not getting enough time with those that really matter to you, that is your sign that it's time to reconsider what you do, with who and when. 

We have this one short precious life. Consider when this Holiday season is in the history books, what do you want to remember, and what memories do you want those you love to have as well?