Thanksgiving, Ready or Not

Post published:November 25, 2013
Post category:Organizing your home and life

Hi. Me again. Just wanted to take a moment to confess something. The Holidays?

I’m not feeling it.

I figured maybe some of you are in the same boat. So I wanted to let you know it’s ok.

I’ve been trying to figure this out for a couple of weeks. It’s not that I am not grateful (I am). I’m not sick or depressed. I’m not angry that retailers are turning Black Friday into Black Thursday (that’s just silly).

For me, I think it’s a combination of things.

Pinterest kind of ruined it for me this year. I just can’t keep up.
We’re making several big decisions all at the same time (new dishwasher coming tomorrow, new car on hold, new kitchen still a ways off).
MIL had Thanksgiving dinner last week when family was here, so I’m all turkey’d out already.
I kind of had my heart set on a quick trip to SeaWorld, but that trip isn’t happening.
My Bible study is deep in the gloom and doom part of the Old Testament right now, and I’m really, really ready for the Good News!
It’s cold.

See, it’s all good. Nothing major. I’ve been here before, and chances are, you have, too. So here’s my plan heading into the holiday haze:

I’m trying to take it easy on myself. I’ve been heading to bed earlier. (My BFF tells me that 6 nights of a solid 8 hours doesn’t make up for the last 6 years of sleep deprivation.)
I’m trying to get some of my own projects done. I love to get client projects done, but it’s fun to be able to enjoy something that I’ve completed for me, too. A little painting here. A little organizing there. It all adds up to a feeling of accomplishment.
Spending time on others, whether family or maybe those less fortunate, gets us out of our own head, sometimes. I’m looking forward to heading down to the People’s Emergency Center with my kids and our church on Thanksgiving Eve.
I’m enjoying the fun stuff. We may not be getting away to SeaWorld, but we enjoyed something a little closer to home, Sesame Place’s A Very Furry Christmas. Community tree lightings and Christmas villages are always so fun, because I get to admire someone else’s decorating and pick up great ideas.
I’m considering taking a social media break sometime during the holidays. Eeek. That one is a little scary for me, to be honest. But in my heart of hearts, I know it would be good for me. Have you been thinking the same?

I don’t want to rush the season; quite the opposite. Creating milestone memories is actually a way to slow down one’s perception of the passing of time. The calendar is my friend. I like to print out the next 6 weeks and schedule the few things that are must-do’s, and check them with hubby. Maybe see the Nutcracker, catch the tree lighting in town, and schedule another trip to see Abby Cadaby and Elmo. I’ll also schedule the big events in 2014, like vacations, conferences I’m attending and classes I’ll be teaching.

One more thing. I don’t feel a real need to be bound by tradition just for tradition’s sake. I’m toying with the idea of having an all-pie Thanksgiving. Chicken pot-pie for the main course. Maybe perogies for the potatoes. And 5 different kinds of dessert pie. Would that make me the coolest mom, or what? Or maybe we’ll order Chinese food.