Christmas breathes quietly around us all, as it lingers less than a week away. For some, its imminent arrival brings happiness, good company and time for relaxation; for others it brings just the opposite.
It is easy to become so preoccupied with having a “good” Christmas that you accomplish exactly the opposite. I think sometimes people put too much pressure on the season; everything has to be perfect. Christmas tree done up exactly one way, the decorations on the house have to be put up ASAP, and let’s not forget how much cooking and cleaning has to be done.
There’s nothing wrong with wanting to put effort into planning festive activities, but I think it becomes a problem when the planning or the execution of an activity produces more stress than enjoyment. I believe that the Christmas season, along with other holiday periods, should be a time for rest and recuperation, and if its not, then maybe you should consider doing some things differently.
Of course, when we are accustomed to things being done a certain way, we are not inclined to change. Traditions, moreover Christmas traditions, are a major foundational pillar in many Guyanese homes. However, if these traditions end with family yelling at each other due to tensions, crying, or even worse – are they worth it?
We become so obsessed with finding the right gifts for people, throwing a perfect party or making the best food, that sometimes we forget why we are doing these things. We shouldn’t be doing them because we feel obligated to, since it’s Christmas. No. We should because we want to make our loved ones happy and we want to make them feel appreciated.
The success of Christmas shouldn’t be determined by whether you were able to buy the most expensive gifts for your friends, but rather by how happy you were during the season.
This is not to say to do away with fancy dinners, or gift giving exercises, and decorating the house, but it is to say, ***do what you enjoy***. If you enjoy these traditions, by all means, go ahead. But do them for the right reasons. If it becomes overwhelming, take a break and cool off; don’t overtax yourself or snap at members of your family. If you find that you don’t enjoy doing certain things, why not talk it over with other members of the family and suggest alternatives? Who knows, maybe it’ll start a better, more unique and more beloved family tradition?
