Choose Joy. We’ve all heard those words before, but somehow they’re having a great impact on me this Christmas than ever before…
With all the hustle and bustle of the last few weeks and months… the pressure to create more inventory for shows, the messy house, the market events happening almost every weekend, and my health being all kinds of wonky… I never stopped long enough to realize I just wasn’t feeling Christmasy this year.This last week wasn’t much better, last minute orders and Operation: Reclaim the House, took over my mind and ate up my time. Finally on Friday all the orders were done, the house was clean, and I had free reign over whatever I wanted to do. Naturally I dove head first into another project, my annual Christmas Quilt.
Despite the adorable fabric and having a plan in my head for how I wanted this one to look… I just haven’t been able to “get in to it”. Over the past few weeks I’ve wondered what the heck was wrong with me. Why couldn’t I seem to get my Christmas act togehter? I was playing Christmas music… buying and making gifts… drooling over Christmas ideas from pinterest and blogs I love… but I just wasn’t feeling it!
Heck I did ZERO decorating this year. I blamed it on the #monsterkittens destroying the tree last year and how busy I was.
But last night as I was bawling my eyes out watching Christmas movies and super sappy hallmark commercials, I realized I am entirely lacking Christmas spirit this year. I’ve had a serious episode of homesickness just brewing under the surface for a couple weeks and last night the damn burst. Its hard for me to believe but this will be my 4th Christmas away from home. My 4th Christmas without my family and its hitting me harder than I ever expected. Growing up thats what Christmas was all about – time with family, traditions and enjoying the season together. Now, not so much. Hubby isn’t “into Christmas” and neither is his parents. There are no long standing traditions, no set family time to plan on, no presents exchanged… no Christmas!
So I made a decision. I am going to CHOOSE JOY, despite how un-joyful I feel. I am going to CHOOSE JOY, despite the lack of decorations and presents. I am going to CHOOSE JOY and be with the family I do have. I am going to CHOOSE JOY until Joy is all I feel!
Christmas isn’t about what I do, what I get or what I feel. Christmas is about the ultimate gift to mankind. Christmas is about family, time together and loving one another. Christmas is about Choosing Joy, no matter what your circumstances.
Are you lacking in Christmas Spirit this year? How do you Choose Joy during the Holidays?
I felt the same way last year when we just moved to Texas! Such good advice, to choose JOY! That's what the season is all about, right?
Xo, Alice
Love your post & thank you for sharing! I hope you have a wonderful Christmas & enjoy the presence of the loved ones around you!
Alway choose joy:) If you wake up every morning and tell yourself you are in a good mood and think of all the things you have to be happy about…you'll be pretty happy:)
Oh, this is me! I struggle each Christmas season with being down…I have 3 lovely babies that help me re-focus. We have intentionally simplified this season to not be quite as overwhelmed. That has definitely helped!
Rosemond
This year was a bit harder for me because I was in Fayetteville and my family was in Dallas. So I hosted a gift wrapping party with blogger friends which totally got me into the spirit. And now I'm good. Yes, choose Joy. Merry Christmas!
What an amazing post! Thank you for sharing! It's nice to see I'm not along in my lack of "feeling it" this year! I hope you do find your Joy this season and in the year to come!