What a busy time of year. I have done very little shopping this year…finances have forced me to really cut back this year. So the few gifts I bought didn’t take much time. Still, the “season” has been very hectic. Even to make a trip to the store for necessities means standing in line. Every day at work there is a new sweet treat to resist. Our company Christmas party was weeks ago but it seems like I’ve had a lot more outside commitments this month. One thing I noticed this year is that most of the people I know have really had to rein in the spending this year. Which is not a bad thing really. I see it as an opportunity to start new traditions, ones that don’t involve spending a lot of money. My niece Anna is super excited about the puppet show she and I are going to do Christmas eve for the family. The piñata tradition will return this year. And lots more games than present opening.
And while I have had some moments of Christmas cheer, mostly I have been trying to avoid a lot of grumpy people this year. Two of my co-workers have been in a silent treatment standoff since the beginning of the month. So work has been super stressful. The fun, joke filled lunches have gone by the wayside as some co-workers have opted to eat out or eat at their desk rather than be around others. I hate that. The spirit of has been difficult to find at work. It seems like when things are going good in one area of life, another is less than great. Work has been a bummer. But……my personal life on the other hand is great!
Joe is in Muskogee now and that has upped my Christmas spirit tremendously. Andy is loving his job and getting ready to move to Stillwater and it makes me happy to see him thriving. Chris and Juliet are going to get to go to Mexico for Christmas this year and that makes me happy to know that Juliet will get to see her family after what has been a pretty long time. And the added bonus to that is I get to keep Puggy the Pug and Layla the Beagle for almost 2 weeks. Happy, happy, joy, joy. Seriously! I love those dogs.
As much as I look forward to Christmas, I also look forward to getting past Christmas and things being back to normal. Hopefully, the stress level of those I’m around most of the day will go down. Hospice is stressful enough without the added negativity. And I look forward to turning that calendar to 2012 and starting a brand new year.
Last year, my resolution was to lose weight, get healthier, spend time writing, seek out some comedy gigs and get back out there in regards to dating and socializing. I did all that and more. I lost weight (though the last couple of weeks have not been good ones in that regard), I am on insulin which has been a Godsend in regard to how I feel physically…it has taken a lot of the guesswork out of trying to keep my blood sugar level stable, this blog which I started writing in Feb 2011 has had over 10,000 views this year, I am steadily making headway on my “dating book” and hope to finish and get it published or self publish it by this time next year, I have made some headway on the book I am writing using my mom’s writings, I have done lots of comedy performances this year and hope to do more in 2012 and dating is OVER……yay!!!! I have fallen in love with the most wonderful man.
It’s easy to get caught up in the rush and chaos of the season. It’s easy to let the stress around you get to you. I’ve managed to stay pretty sane but it’s taken a lot of effort on my part. Last year my”2011 motto” was Get off the sidelines and get into life. This year my 2012 them will be to enjoy the fruit of that effort. I am happier, healthier, more confident, and more driven to accomplish my dreams and use my talents than I think I have ever been. God has blessed me tremendously this year. I am grateful for all of it. Between now and a couple of days after New Years Day I will have the opportunity to see every single member of my family. That’s an amazing gift. And it’s a gift that money can’t buy.
This time next week, the tree will be down and for the first time in years I won’t have credit card charges coming due from over spending at Christmas. The mass quantities of food that seem to be at every gathering and at the office daily will be gone and my will power won’t be tested every single day. The crowds will be gone, hopefully a 3 day weekend and some Christmas cheer will give my co-workers time to get past the tiff and into truce mode. I’ll have a 4 day weekend to look forward to since I’m taking off January 3 and have January 2nd off for the holiday. That 4 day weekend will include a trip to Austin to see Chris and Juliet and return the dogs. Joe will be going along and meeting the “rest of the family”.
2012 is just around the corner. And I’m ready to corner the market on happiness. Or at least grab a pretty big chunk of it this year just like last. And I wish all of you a big chunk of happiness as well.
Gratitude is one of the sweet shortcuts to finding peace of mind and happiness inside. No matter what is going on outside of us, there's always something we could be grateful for.
- Barry Neil Kaufman
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