Opinions
 |
Embracing the Christmas chaos |
by Dale Burgos
Winter has come, which means it is time to dig out your parkas, mittens and toques. If you have little school-aged kids, this also means you have to start getting them dressed about 20 minutes before leaving. Thankfully, my kids are fully grown; they can dress themselves. Most days, I approve of their clothing choices.
It seems to me that December has crept up very quickly again this year. Instead of getting stressed, I choose to take a breath and tackle it day by day, but that doesn’t mean I feel the holiday panic.
For those who thrive on stress shopping, awkward office parties and shovelling-induced back pains, this is your time to shine. For everyone else, here’s a survival guide to get you through the season with your sanity (mostly) intact.
Gift shopping
Every year, we tell ourselves we’ll be more organized. By mid-December, those good intentions can be as tangled as last year’s Christmas lights. Instead, we sprint through stores grabbing the random items still available on store shelves while justifying that the kids, in fact, need new scented candles or bath towels.
Holiday parties
Did you really want to spend a free evening with people you see all day, every day? One of my first work holiday parties (almost 30 years ago!) involved my manager crawling on all fours a couple hours into our gathering. That following Monday involved some gossip and judgy eyes. Take it from that person who didn’t stress and owned it with a show of grace and big piece of humble pie.
And what about karaoke? We Filipinos love it! Nothing unites coworkers like watching Jake from accounting belt out Jingle Bell Rock. This is your time to shine, grab the mic and belt out a tune or two. Shake off the holiday stress and gain street cred while doing it.
Shovelling snow
Just because your neighbours shovel their driveway two seconds after the snow falls, take your time to dress warmly, sip on a hot chocolate, and don’t feel obligated to keep up with your overachieving friend next door. The snow will melt eventually, am I right?
Gift giving
What do you get someone who has everything? Don’t stress about finding the perfect gift. Do what I do – make something! Who knew I was a maestro with a glue gun? I sure didn’t! Past birthdays and Mother’s Days, Elizbeth has been more than impressed with my beach themed and completely homemade gifts.
On the flipside, homemade gifts sound charming in theory – thoughtful, personal and sometimes budget-friendly. In reality, they could be a recipe for disaster. Take ornaments, for example. You start with glue, felt and a vision. You end with something that looks like it belongs in a low-budget horror movie. Candles? A classic choice until you realize your “aromatic masterpiece” smells like burnt crayons and regret. Then there’s knitting. One misplaced loop, and your scarf has transformed into a potholder.
Embracing the chaos
December is messy, chaotic and occasionally ridiculous, and that’s what makes it great. It’s about laughing through the imperfections, whether it’s a failed DIY project or an office party where you ate one too many sausage rolls. So, this year, let’s embrace the mayhem! Wear the ugly sweater. Over-decorate your house. Did I mention we have 13 Christmas trees? Sing Jingle Bells at full volume in your car. Because in the end, the holiday spirit isn’t about getting everything perfect; it’s about enjoying the imperfect moments along the way.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go untangle some lights and figure out how to turn a burnt batch of cookies into a “rustic holiday dessert.” Happy holidays!
Dale manages the corporate communications department for a city in British Columbia.