Flurry of Activity
November 22, 2005
This week I am channeling the energy of my Fairy Godson Miles – peaceful and wise.
The official period of "the holidays are just around the corner" is over, and the fesitivites are about to ensue. I am in Solvang this week preparing for a house full of guests in 48 hours, which means re-potting a lot of plants, re-arranging some bookshelves, getting bathrooms cleaned, making sure there are plenty of towels, getting our knives sharpened for our gigantic turkey and, of course, grocery shopping. I got the house in order in a flurry of activity yesterday, today I’m headed into Santa Barbara for the day to run errands and see friends, and tomorrow the focus is food. I love this time of year – I enjoy putting work on the back burner and focusing more of my energy on my friends, my family and my home.
There is so much pressure to make the holidays "perfect" for ourselves and everyone we care about, but the truth is that there will be foibles and arguments and maybe even mashed potato catastrophes. I think we tend to place special requirements on this time of year – wanting it to be a time that is "better" than the rest of our days, wishing that the day to day realities of life won’t get in the way of our being jolly. It is a special time, indeed, but it is still a part of life. It may be a time for reflection and gratitude, for focusing inward and looking to the year ahead, but we still might have a credit card bill due on Christmas day. I think this is why it can be a uniquely sensitive time for so many – we can’t help but ponder our life and relationships, our past and our future during the holiday season, and it can be frustrating when "real life" interrupts that.
My goal this year is to just enjoy myself, take care of myself and let go of any expectations I have of this time of year. This is a special time, and I know it will be lovely. The details of that loveliness are not important. What is more important is that I walk through each day being present in each moment and savoring the love that I know will fill my home. This home is not perfect, and neither am I, but I have a million reasons to feel thankful, and that is what feels perfect to me.
It sounds like you will have a wonderful time, Christine; nothing better than to spend the day eating and drinking and laughing with good friends and loved ones. It might just be my perception but in Europe we seem to be a bit more chilled out about needing everything to be perfect, from the hostess to the meal to the perfect table setting. Cooking and decorating is fun if you take the expectation for perfection out of it; and guests NEVER care about perfection if they are in a home that makes them feel welcome and loved. As yours will do
Happy Thanksgiving!
Kerstin x
I am wishing you a Thanksgiving as beautiful as your heart. These last few entries are healing balms for the soul. Thank you thank you thank you!!! p.s. A real bonafide, stamped letter is on the way to you this very moment! xo
i’m there with you! happy thanksgiving:) there is SO much to be thankful for.
Happy Thanksgiving
The BEST goal you can have is to…just enjoy…
Happy Thanksgiving, Christine, and a belated happy birthday, too! Enjoy.
Although for decades it probably appeared that I was enjoying myself on holidays, I never truly was…until I learned to just LET GO…of any imagined perfect tableau I created in my mind…which of course only set me up for disappointment.
A few years ago I started releasing myself from some of the obligatory holiday stuff. Now I just let the holidays form themselves…and whatever shape they take, that’s okay. Hope you’re having a lovely holiday. xoxo
I have been catching up and have really appreciated your honesty within these last few posts. The idea that we hope that this time of year will be “better” resonates with me. Maybe this year I can remember to be as full of gratitude all the other days of the year. And remembering that this time of year is simply one part of the life we live and that we live it every day no matter the season. Hope you are enjoying yourself!