Merry (Bleeping) Christmas!

This is the time of the year that people love to hate! Why? Because it is madness. You are forced to interact with people that you intentionally have not talked to since this time last year. You did not talk to them because you have nothing in common. And the last time you did speak, there was awkward silence or you felt weird because you have nothing in common. Sometimes you feel guilty. Like, I know I am related to this person or have some sort of familial tie so I should at least make an effort to try to sort things out. Ask questions. Think, Q! What do they like? Everybody loves to talk about themselves. Right? You coach yourself to cope with the anxiety of the Christmas season.

This is what happened to me last year. I was getting ready for the week long process of going to eight different undisclosed yet pre-determined locations and it hit me. It being that sick feeling that you are not going to survive the madness of the holidays. "It" started with nausea, then a headache. Next thing I knew it was full blown depression. I couldn't move. I couldn't think. I just had to tell myself to breathe and be there. The whole of the insanity was more than I could bear.

This is what I hear them call the middle place. Where you have young children who want time with their parents and to enjoy their new toys in their homes and to run around the neighborhood with their friends. But then there are the lovely people who reared us and want things to be as they were many years ago when we were at their behest. Then there are the others. The ones who never fail to show up for every party and every holiday. Can you tell how much the anticipation of the season has me in exuberatant joy?!

But this year is different. This year I am happy and looking forward to the season. Maybe I am just giving up and recognizing that none of these traditions is going to change. Maybe I got an attitude adjustment. Maybe I am a bit more satisfied with the accomplishments of the year and able to finally relax regardless of how many times I have to pose for unwanted photographs. Or maybe, I am taking the time to realize that the things that matter most may not be all the glitter and travelling and random conversations but they are family and faith and hope. These are the things I am focusing on this year and in doing so, I will enjoy all the rest.

I went from thinking "Merry (Bleeping) Christmas" to zeroing in on that one most important word - Christ. The merry and the mas are just additional letters that remind us that when our Savior was born, we all had reason to be joyjul! See you around Aunt Sally's Christmas tree.

Have a Merry Christmas, everybody!