I know there is already a bunch of written work out there about the holidays but alas, I couldn’t resist.
For most of us, the holiday celebrations coming our way in 2020 won’t look like the ones of yesteryear. But does that have to be a bad thing?
What if we just made it okay for things to be new and different? Maybe even radically different.
I understand that people are often challenged by change, but what if instead of resisting, we just embraced it?
What are the emotions that often come up around the holidays?
Yes, there is joy. Yes, there is celebration and togetherness and love and laughter – no doubt.
But what about the other feelings that can creep in. Come on – I can’t be the only person who has also experienced obligation, necessity, responsibility and expectation.
When it comes to the holidays, we often find ourselves doing things for no reason other than it just being the way we have always done it. We wrap it up with a bow and call it tradition. But we have likely all experienced some traditions that we would happily give up if given the chance.
So here is the deal. This year, we have all been given permission to re-write the script. If you don’t feel like going home, don’t go. If you don’t feel like traveling, don’t travel. If you don’t feel like cooking – I hereby give you a get-out-of-jail-free card.
Neither of our girls will be coming home this year for Thanksgiving and there have been no plans made for Christmas either. I am completely at peace with Thanksgiving as our family has never really made a big deal about it, especially since the girls have been away at school on the opposite coast.
But this year, I have had to wrap my arms around the idea that they might not be home for Christmas either.
Not going to lie, the thought at first made my lower lip quiver. But as we started to talk about and imagine some of the things we could do instead, I allowed it to feel more like planning a new adventure.
So instead of the holidays being just one more casualty of 2020, why not set out to make this holiday season the best one ever. Perhaps instead of a big celebration, you put all the effort into the support of a charitable event or foundation and make it into a giving party with friends. You could create a socially distanced scavenger hunt. Or create a games tournament – live and/or virtual. Maybe care less about the tradition and more about the things we are thankful for.
May you break with tradition and try something you have always wanted to do (or not do).
Thanks 2020 for the perfect excuse.
