Posted by By Oretta Croushore, Property Manager for Home Rental Services
Many of us in the HRS Family have been discussing the craziness that is the month of December. It seems like I was going along, getting ready for turkey, minding my own business and BOOM! Someone filled my December calendar up.
The holiday season is synonymous with the term “hustle and bustle.”
A few years ago, I wrote a blog post called “busy is a four letter word.” It was all about how our society glorifies being busy and having full calendars. We have to remember to balance those hectic times with quiet times. I know self care is one of those buzz words we get a little tired of hearing but it’s a real thing. If you don’t take care of yourself, you can’t take care of anyone else. One day, you wake up and realize your battery didn’t recharge overnight because you have drained so much of its power.
So, hang with me for a bit and we will do a little recharge together. Don’t speed read this, take it all in. Not just because it’s an incredible piece of writing, but because you deserve a little break. :) Ready? Take a deep breath, close your eyes for a second, let that breath out and feel it leaving your body. Relax your shoulders, your neck, your back, your hands. Think of something that makes you happy. Now, open your eyes, because you can’t read with them closed.
Des Moines Family Time
This weekend we traveled to Des Moines to see my husband’s family, and to have our family Christmas gathering. This year held an extra bonus because we were all getting to meet our great niece for the first time. She lives with her parents in California. Miss Kora Love came into this world in August and I have been dying to meet her. I might be biased but she’s cute as a button and sweet as honey.
In addition to Kora, I also got to meet Archie for the first time. He’s 10 months old and on the move. He definitely has stuff to do and gets it all done. He did take a little time to let me hold him, though. There is something about baby snuggles that makes everything right in the world. It’s impossible to think of the things that make you mad, or all the stuff you should be doing, when a little body is pressed against you filing you with amazement and wonder.
I am an only child. I married into a family where my husband is one of five boys. A lot has changed in the 25 years I have known this family. The brothers all have significant others. Most of them have kids. Some of them have kids and step kids. Many of them now have grandkids! The flower girl from my wedding was in attendance with her four kids and Kora’s daddy was my ring bearer!
25 year ago, when I felt overwhelmed by these gatherings, I had no idea how much they would grow over the years. I also had no idea how much I would cherish them. I never expected to be an aunt and now I am a great aunt several times over. All in the blink of an eye!
There were several moments that filled my gratitude jar this weekend.
The one image I can’t get out of my head is the pile of shoes. I walked past the entryway and saw the giant pile of shoes scattered there. I realized that each of those shoes belonged to someone in the house who was laughing and having fun.
We had a house full of people ranging from in their 70s on down to a brand new with the price tag still on them. In addition to shoes, there were water bottles, a baby walker, and even an old school Gameboy. My gratitude jar overflowed at that moment. Seeing the circle of love represented in those small items in the entryway made me feel so happy to have this time together.
I think we put a lot of pressure on ourselves at the holidays.
We all have traditions we want to uphold and the pressure to try to create precious memories. We tend to want it all to be perfect. We want the perfect decorations, perfect presents, perfect food. When you think back on the things you remember from your holidays past, I bet you don’t remember the things that were perfect. Instead, you remember the things that made you feel warm and full of love.
Do what you can to take care of yourself during this time of year. I promise you will like yourself more. Remember to embrace the activities that you work so hard to make happen. Also, remember to give yourself some grace. It’s ok if a tradition doesn’t happen for one year. If you need to bow out of an invitation because your mental health is asking you to, those who love you will understand.
Find Your Pile of Shoes
However you spend your holidays in whatever way you celebrate, I hope you can make the most of it while giving up the least of yourself. Stop and look at the beauty around you, smile at strangers, steal a kiss under the mistletoe (even if there is no mistletoe), laugh too hard at something dumb, tell dad jokes so others can laugh too hard, too. Above all, live in your moments and find your pile of shoes.
Home Rental Services Blog 