I dare you to be merry.

Ahhh, Thanksgiving week.

A short work week…Meaning rushing around to get all your work projects done early so your smartphone won’t be haunting you during dinner with the fam.

A day with family…Meaning prep work, decorating work, cleanup and stress and dealing with Crazy Uncle Dean.

The beginning of the holiday season…Meaning “what do I buy for everyone?” panic and loud, screaming sales and more decorating and more prep work and things to stress over…

Arggggh!

The holidays are a lovely thing…remember?

I’m a worrywart by nature. So I’m just as susceptible as everyone else to the crazy hectic stress that holidays turn into when you’re a grownup.

But you know what? This year, I’m doing things differently.

I decided this Monday night at work, when I was forced to stay late to get some projects finished and the boss warned us it was probably going to be the norm the rest of the week.

I decided this Tuesday morning, when I wondered how I was going to get my hair cut (to look nice for the fam I see once a year) and get Little Dog groomed (so he’ll look nice for the family he sees once a year) and make my part of the Thanksgiving potluck in time for tomorrow.

I decided this today, when I realized that all the pretty, shiny, exciting, charitable things the holidays used to mean now just mean planning and stress and anxiety to me. I used to love Christmas. Now I miss loving Christmas, and instead just kind of plow through it desperately.

And I don’t like that. So this year, I think I’m going to do things differently.

I dare you to join me.

I’ve cancelled my hair appointment. I will wear my hair up so no one sees the split ends, and focus instead on enjoying the company of the family I only get to see once a year. I don’t think they really care about my hair.

I’ve cancelled Little Dog’s grooming appointment. He’s a terrier, so he looks cuter scruffy, anyway. (And if I throw a holiday sweater on him, it won’t matter because he’ll be so freaking adorable everyone will be focused on wanting to eat him up. Yes, I dress Little Dog in sweaters. I am that kind of dog person.)

I’ve decided that Thanksgiving will be about what it should be about: relaxing, eating way too much, trying not to fall asleep on the couch at 6:00, pretending for one day a year that I care about football, (avoiding Crazy Uncle Dean), and not (not NOT) worrying about getting the tree up the next day and getting everyone’s wish lists and scheduling all the events that are going to come tumbling down on us in December.

I am going to turn off my phone. I am going to turn off my computer. And when I wake up the day after Thanksgiving, I am going to put on some carols and try to have a holly, jolly Christmas season full of magic and joy like I used to when I was a little kid.

Who wants in?

~Heart,
Em

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photo credit:  ImaginaryGirl