It's Christmas Eve. The day before the most anticipated day of the year for many of us. December 25th, known more commonly as Family Fight Day. The day family gathers together to exchange gifts, good wishes and karate kicks.
Everything always starts warm and fuzzy then out of the blue Uncle Bob is wielding a cheese knife, the kids are crying and Auntie Barbara is hiding behind the curtains with a bottle of Sambuca blubbering about how nobody loves her.
Getting through Christmas Day can be hard on people. Whether it's the family fights, the travelling from home to home or spending it with the inlaws, or the being alone, Christmas Day can be exhausting.
So. I'm here to not so gently remind you that you need to relax. Even if you just pick one day. Here is my official not so gentle reminder. "HEY. STUPID! RELAX!". It's directed towards myself too so don't feel you're the only stupid one.
Christmas is my favourite time of the year but it's also the most tiring and also the most stressful. Even WITH the Christmas Pledge. So I always make a point of taking time off after Christmas and using that time to relax. Something I'm not all that good at.
Every year I like to tell you what I plan to do with my time off so here you go.
Read.
Finally hang curtain panels in my office.
Light the fireplace in the morning and not leave the couch other than to eat.
Spend at LEAST one day where I don't turn on the television or computer. Probably a few days actually.
Cook, cook, cook.
Depending on the weather, a sleigh ride is in the plans.
Start a petition to stop people from using the word "convo" instead of conversation.
Go for a run. Or two. Or lay on the couch.
Do some work on my book proposal.
Work on developing the redesign of The Art of Doing Stuff.
Expand petition to ban the shortening of all words.
Knit.
Nap.
Nibble.
I look forward to this week off all year and even though I will be doing some work I'll also have plenty of time to sprawl out and not wash my hair. Which let's face it. Is really what the holidays are all about.
But before all that happens I have to get ready for my annual Christmas Eve party. Stack some wood inside the house, get the hot buttered rum ready and lock up the cheese knives.
Have a great Christmas Day and thank you all sincerely for reading and sharing The Art of Doing Stuff.
I will see you in the New Year.
Louise
Whaaaaah! How can I relax without your blog?! I'll have to comb through your old posts.
I guess you do deserve to relax; you are one insanely hard-working woman!
Virginia
Happy Celebrating and I so enjoy you, rest well!
Pam'a
Dear Karen,
1. Please add "u" to the list of nasty shortened words.
2. Look! Mindy reads your blog!
3. Enjoy your time away and...
4. Peace on Earth!
May we all be mindful of how very "first world" our problems are.
Auntiepatch
Merry Christmas!
Mindy
Merry Christmas!!!!!
Yvonne, the other one.
Have a Very Merry Christmas Karen!
I'm with you on banning shortened words, and so bothered by people who are now using totally 'wrong' words, for example, I read a comment on a blog which said - just my two sense worth - when I think she meant - just my two cents' worth. (It SOUNDS like the same word...)
Anyway, enjoy every moment of your break, eat whatever you feel like, read for hours on the couch in front of a roaring fire and do not feel obliged to celebrate the New Year. I'm going to use the good china, drink the better booze and scarf down all the treats I only bring in when company comes.
Joy
Add "must of" to that list! "I "must of" read it wrong." :) That one drives me bonkers. It sounds similar to must've, but that doesn't make it right!
shuckclod
Have a wonderful holiday. Thank you for the laughs. Don't forget to feed the girls and the cat. I hate shortened words and couple name words. Guess it is our ages :)
Karen
Nah. I've always disliked shortening words. In high school everyone did it. THey referred to the cafeteria as "the caf" for example. Drove me NUTS then and drives me nuts now, lol. ~ karen!
Langela
You don't need to drive, Karen. You're close enough to walk! :)
Karen
I'm so tired I had to read that about 10 times before I understood what you were saying, lol. ~ karen!
Serduszko
Merry Christmas, Karen! Enjoy your week and relax!! Can't wait to see what you have in store for us next year! P.S. Add FAB to your petition, please. ;)
Karen
Done! ~ karen
Meg
Merry Christmas!!!! And a happy new year!! I hope you really enjoy your relaxing time.
Thanks for the pledge again - this year I even made it to a handful of parties that I don't normally attend. So I'm already working on relaxing thanks to you!
And ...sleigh ride?!!? A real sleigh? With horses?!! <<>> Have fun!!!
Meg
oh it thought that was HTML... it said ::: yearns for snow::: in the brackets.
Karen
LOL. Yup. A friend of mine has a farm with Clydesdales and a couple of fancy sleighs. Now we just need snow. ~ karen!
Liz
Happy happy Christmas, Karen. Thanks for inviting us into your conversations :)
Karen
Heh. You're welcome Liz. ;) ~ karen!
Dee
Merry Christmas to you, Karen, and thank you for a wonderful year of entertaining and useful posts. Hoping you enjoy your time off.
Anita
Merry Peaceful Christmas, Karen. See you next year.
Valerie
Have a cool yule.
Kathy Hartzell
Christmas brings out the best and worst in most of us. Which are we? The besties or the worsties? If we can laugh at our compulsions and try at least to let them go, maybe we'll be one who is "the best". What do my kids remember about the holidays? It isn't perfect decorations or best wrapping job...it's having the door open to their friends, pulling out the baking gear and whipping up some cookies on Christmas afternoon cuz we were too busy earlier, sending the friends home with goodies and over the mixing bowl, listening to what they wanted to say. Eating too much. Forgetting to cook the cranberries, but remembering the meringues.
Thank heavens for mini Christmas lights, in a pinch, a mass of them as almost as good as a tree!
Kathy
I enjoyed reading about your plans. Here's to time off......to knit nap nibble. My new favorite phrase.
Ritz
A Splendid Christmas to You and Yours, Karen!
Sherry
Relax. Enjoy. Merry Christmas to you!
And please add chillax to your petition.
MIssnicoleo
and anywho, ugh.
Another1
Can we please add "vacay" to your petition?
It will be covered by banning all shortened words, but I think it deserves a special mention along with "convo".
Merry Christmas!
Nicole2
And Xmas! Where do I sign that petition?
Anyway, have a wonderful, wonderful Christmas Karen! I'll try and relax too.
Jennie Lee
I don't like seeing our amazing language dumbed-down, either. Can we attach a section to your petition encouraging the continued use of words like: dwarves, rooves, hooves, staves, etc.? I mean, what's next, lifes? Knifes (n.)? Please, no!!
Melissa D
I think knifes are only allowed at restos. Which is totes adorbs.
Karen
LOL! ~ k!
Chana
Book proposal? Oh joy! Can't wait!
Karen
Yes ma'am. :) https://www.theartofdoingstuff.com/the-art-of-doing-stuff-is-growing-read-about-the-changes-coming-up/ ~ karen!
DanniS
Have a wonderful Christmas Karen!!