Reclaiming The Season

[ladysprite]

Sometimes being pathologically overprepared isn't the best thing in the world.

It's only December 8, and I'm already almost done with my holiday cookie baking - layers and stacks of cookies and fudge are already frozen or otherwise stored and waiting to be distributed. Plans are in place for heading down to my mom's house for the holiday itself, and while I haven't finished my shopping, at least a handful of gifts are ready and I know what most of the rest will be.

All of this is leaving me, unfortunately, already running short on holiday spirit. Not feeling grinchy or humbuggy, just... not like it's really the holidays. It doesn't help that we won't be able to get our tree until late this year, so I don't have that to look forward to within the next week. There's no snow on the ground, not too many parties in the offing, and not much more for me to do.

So how do I make it feel like the holidays? I'm doing everything I can think of, big or little - from snowman socks to charity fundraisers and office parties - but the season just feels cold, not festive. Not birthday, not Christmas, not Hanukkah, just.... wintery.

Maybe tonight I'll put up our stockings early, and get some lights in the window.

Any other ideas?

Comments

[kightp.livejournal.com]

I highly recommend hanging the lights. If you can put them on a timer (they're cheap) so they come on right before you get home, even better. I'm *immensely* cheered in this dark season when I come home from work to the glow of the tiny white lights on my porch.

And then, manybe ... don't try to *do* so much? See if you can make some time just to sit in peace, listen to some good music (holiday or otherwise) and just *be*. Finding such small moments of silence is really helpful to me when I'm reaching too hard for the cheer...