As I write, it’s less than six hours from Christmas Eve. I’m starting to feel the pressure, as if I’m getting pulled into the swirling vortex of holiday frenzy. Am I alone? Or are you feeling the pull and getting lost in the swirl with me?
I’ve done well up until this point, not obsessed about gifts, shopping, baking. I ordered a few gifts here and there, but we really are being minimalist and earth- and budget-friendly this year. We’re focusing more on people than possessions. Spending time together instead of with stuff. So that’s all good.
But about 4 pm today some sort of holiday bug hit me and I started freaking out because we aren’t going to be able to get gifts to everyone on time unless we pay astronomical prices for shipping. Then I started stressing about whether people would feel like we don’t love them if we don’t send the standard yearly holiday card. I know it’s crazy and I fought it until now, so why has it got its grips in me?!?
I don’t know, but I’m going to keep fighting. Christmas and the holidays are NOT about presents. They aren’t about toys, gifts, packages, and stuff. Not even close. And I really want to get out of the habit of feeling like the success or failure of the holidays lives and dies by whether or not everyone gets what they want in time. Know what I mean?
So I’m battling the swirling vortex. Where are you?
Manual: Page 77—Color Mode. Played a bit with color on the images today. Can you tell?
Images: Looked at images online of a snowball fight in Times Square by Doug Kim, a freelance fine art, documentary photographer based in Brooklyn, NY.
On Pinterest? 
