Tis the season, to go Christmas shopping!
After dragging myself out of my warm home, with the remnants of snow still on the ground, I made it to Bed, Bath and Beyond for Christmas shopping. And that place is beyond, I spent so much time walking around trying to find what I was looking for.
A friend of mine recently informed me that I talk to everyone that crosses my path. Really? I thought about it, but after noticing my interactions on a daily basis, I do stop and talk to almost everyone rather it be, the cashier, a person Christmas shopping, the person in line ahead of me at the post office, or even a lady exiting Chick-fil-a, anyone really. It must be from years of being in customer service and having an extremely friendly family. We have never met a stranger.
AN ENCOUNTER WITH A STRANGER
After wandering around trying to find the department I was looking for, I saw an elderly woman struggling. She had her purse on her shoulder that kept falling down, a few items she was buying in her hand and she was desperately trying to put a bath mat she had looked at back in its original place.
For some reason, I didn’t offer to help her, she was blocking the aisle I needed to go down so I stayed back and watched her.
She tried to fold it and place it back on the shelf only to have it fall out of the fold and then it wouldn’t fit in the tight spot it was supposed to be placed in. Letting out a sigh of frustration she said, “Fine.” She placed her belongings down and pulled her purse strap up again. fighting the bath mat one last time.
After seeing her annoyance, I said, “It’s ok.”
She looked up at me.
“Really. Ma’am, don’t worry about it.”
“Thank you.” She said.
“For sure.” I replied, “They have plenty of people who can fix that.”
Relieve came over here, she threw the mat on top of the pile, picked up all her stuff, turned to me and said, “Thank you for releasing me from that.”
I smiled. She smiled. And then we both went on with our Christmas shopping.
YOU ARE RELEASED
We both left the unfolded mat on top of all the perfectly folded ones. As a sign that sometimes we need to be messy and released from some things.
Therefore in this holiday season, I release you.
Yep, the tree doesn’t have to be perfect.
Thanksgiving dinner doesn’t have to have everything that everyone wants and needs. (I’m thinking of all you Monica’s out there; all the different kinds of potatoes for everyone, you don’t have to do that.)
Buy the gifts you can afford, friend.
If all the holiday treats don’t get done before Christmas, then make them be a New Year’s holiday treat.
You are released to enjoy your holiday. Watch the Christmas movie you normally don’t have time for because there is so much to do for Christmas, buy rolls for thanksgiving if you don’t have time to make homemade ones. Enjoy your Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
It is ok. Let go of the things that are stressing you out.
Attention all mothers, it is fine to enjoy your holiday too, you work, and cook and clean and take care of everyone for the entire year, tell your family everything may not be perfect, and it is ok. You would like a nice little relaxing break too.
Tell them what you want.
Last Christmas, when I went home to be with my family I had worked every day for over a week and then drove 13 hours to get home and was tired. Then there was the hustle and bustle of getting all the final touches done for Christmas.
After the actual Christmas day, the meals, the presents, the disaster movie theater experience, and playing musical sleeping arrangements, and dog sitting, I was exhausted.
The first down day after Christmas, my dad asked, me why was I so crabby.
I said cause I haven’t got to do anything I have wanted to do.
“What do you want to do??”
“I want to sit at home, sleep, watch Hallmark movies, and play my brothers new XBOX.”
HIS response was so simple, “Well, then do it.”
This is my advice to you all, DO IT!
We all have expectations for the holiday season and what we want to do, and it is hard to do it all and make everyone happy, but if you at least voice what you want to do it is much more likely to happen.
Hence, this year I am already planning my video game day, my day to sleep and then the rest are filled with friends, family, and tons of fun.
And friends I encourage you to do the same. It is going to be a great Christmas season, and we can always learn something new, even from a stranger.
LucyDame 