Holiday Choices
Photo: Emily Giacomini
The holidays are upon us! Lately I’ve been scrambling to fit multiple opportunities for sing-alongs, Advent speakers and even cookie-baking bashes into my schedule. Everything that pops up looks tempting . . . I am an extrovert after all. I relish seeing people in person and celebrating the holidays- the music, the lights, the cheer, the food, the goodwill!
How much is too much? What would it look like to be mindful of my limitations in energy and time? In my 20’s I somehow managed to fill every weeknight almost year-round with some fun activity and still get to work (in-person at the office) on time and alert. Now I look back on that, stunned! It seems unfathomable. These days, while I still manage to stay busy, I hope I’m wiser about how and where I invest my energy, especially at the end of the year.
A few categories come to mind for evaluating options . . .
Self-Care: What do I need to be at my best?
Sleep: Honoring how much rest I need to function well is key.
Food: How am I getting the nutrition I need? And did I really need to try half of the 10 desserts at that extravagant family Thanksgiving dinner? I’m embarrassed to even type this- but they were small portions, right? I’m (partially) relieved to have escaped without any leftovers.
Exercise: How does accepting an invitation impact my physical routine? As the winter darkness falls earlier and earlier, a friend might suggest a walk during what is normally business hours. In this case, taking her up on it serves some needs and challenges others. How can I stay active and in community, while also serving my clients well?
Energy: Will a particular event leave me emotionally energized or drained? Are the others attending people with whom I can genuinely connect?
Give and take: What would I “bring to the party” and take away?
Pacing: How does this event fit in with the rest of my schedule? If I commit to it, what will I need to miss in order to maintain a sense of equilibrium?
Gut: Coming up I’ve got the chance to attend two amazing events on a Saturday. I’ve already said yes to one and even invited friends to come. The other is appealing as well, yet considering the short window for rest between the potential outings, I feel a gut response rising up inside me . . . something like resentment. Could it be a clue? I’m laughing as I see how ridiculous this sounds. As I’ve debated over the past few days whether to squeeze in the second event, I even caught myself hoping that when I go to RSVP, I’ll learn the event is full. Preposterous!
In the spirit of focusing on what’s important next, I’ll keep this pondering short. I hope you (and I) will be pleased with the choices we make this holiday season to convene with people who bring us life at events we’ll be glad to remember for years to come. Happy Holidays and much joy to you and your family!