Cheers to a Perfectly Imperfect Holiday
With Christmas less than a week away I wanted to slow down from the busyness of the holidays for a few moments and share some thoughts I’ve been sitting with for the past few weeks.
Christmas has always been a big one for our family. We love it. Decorating the tree and the house. Playing Christmas carols, baking cookies, hosting a big Christmas dinner. Spoiling the kids and trying to make it the absolute best day for them, one that they’ll always remember. Gurmeet and I love making it a big deal. But - with making it a big deal comes pressure. Pressure that we put on yourselves to make it perfect. I’m not sure where that pressure even comes from, but it’s there.
If 2020 has taught me anything, it’s to loosen my grip on ‘perfect’. That holding on tightly to expectations doesn’t make them become a reality. If anything - I’ve found it’s the opposite. The lighter I hold things, the more space I give them to be what they will be, the better I can see and experience them.
The holidays are inherently messy. They aren’t all about perfect placemats lined up on a perfect table or beautifully wrapped gifts under the tree, or a huge feast that is perfectly cooked on time. Because that isn’t what matters anyway.
In fact, I’m ok if the house is a little messy. I’m ok with ripped up wrapping paper scattered on the floor and dirty countertops, if that means that we have time to go sledding, do a puzzle or just relax in front of the fire. I’m fine with a hodge podge dinner of everyone’s favorite foods and a sink full of dirty dishes, as long as the people I love are happy, healthy, and together.
Anyway, the point is that I need to continually remind myself to to re-think the idea of “perfect.” To relax a little. To be gentle and go easy on myself. And I’m willing to bet that you do too. Because that is what your family is going to remember - that you enjoyed every moment fully with them, that you didn’t beat yourself up over every little thing, that cleaning up can wait, and that the perfect holiday isn’t ever what you think it’s going to be - but that is what makes every single one so special.
