November has a way of making us feel as though we should be doing more.
The holidays are coming. There are meals to plan, homes to prepare, shopping and errands, and traditions to keep alive. Somewhere along the way, what should be a season of connection can begin to feel like a long list of things we need to get right.
I've been thinking about that lately.
The holidays are a lot of work. And while I wouldn't trade those moments for anything, I've also learned that the magic isn't in getting everything just right. It’s taken me a long time to learn that. Too long actually.
When I was a child, the holidays were challenging, not joyful. They were everything I never wanted my own daughters to experience. So as they were growing up, I went out of my way to make the holidays “perfect.” That pressure wasn't coming from them. It was coming from me.
Now my daughters are grown, and somewhere along the way, my perspective has shifted.
Maybe there really is something to the saying, “With age comes wisdom.” I know that as I've gotten older, I've found more joy in the things that matter most. The people gathered around the table. The conversations that wander off course. The laughter coming from another room. The unexpected moments nobody planned but everyone will remember long after the holiday is over. I know I will.
The house doesn't have to be perfect. The meal doesn't have to be flawless. And we don't have to create a picture-perfect holiday to give the people we love something meaningful.
Perhaps that's a good reminder as we head into the coming weeks.
What if we spent a little less energy trying to make everything perfect and a little more time enjoying what is already good?
It might mean simplifying a meal by ordering pizza instead of cooking. Or saying no to an obligation that takes you away from home for the evening. It might mean leaving a few things undone and instead, opting to sit down with a cup of coffee and reconnecting with someone you love.
We can honor our traditions without becoming prisoners to them. And we can remind ourselves that enough really can be enough. It can actually be beautiful!
As you move through this week, I hope you'll give yourself permission to enjoy the season as it unfolds, imperfectly. Embrace the unexpected and savor the time you have with your loved ones, in your own way.
Until next time!
Mischelle
Monday & Mindful
