The Take December Back concept is hard and joyful all in one! It requires intention and maybe acknowledgment that the month of December is a bit unrealistic; and if you are able to recognize this, it then takes a real sense of asking yourself: Are you okay with it? Do you want something different? If your answer is - you are good with it – then great! If you want something different – you may want to take December back!
To learn more about my first few years of Taking December back go to: https://www.kariprimozic.com/post/2017/12/01/taking-december-back
My family and I have been taking December back for eight years now. I have had some time to think about the concept and it has evolved. It truly is about keeping our peace, joy and priorities. I am always so interested in the responses I get when I share my declaration of, Taking December Back. A common response I hear is: But I love Christmas, I can’t take it back.
Taking December Back is not about, not liking Christmas, or the holidays – it’s about claiming it for you and your loved ones. It is about prioritizing your joy and peace – during a time where expectations, traditions, and commitments can become very demanding and overwhelming.
For those who thrive in the crazy of the season (who are you and I want to chat with you), I am happy for you!! Yet, MANY do not thrive! And, I don’t just mean the sadness many feel around the holidays; I also mean the overwhelm. We see the holiday struggle on TV, in our families, at social gatherings, in books – yet what do we do about it?
For years, the big question around the holidays I get is: Are you ready for Christmas? Or, Are you ready for the Holidays? We as a society, put a lot of pressure on being READY!
What does READY mean?
Does it mean you have all the gifts? You have attended all the parties and appropriate holiday events? Does it mean you have done your part in giving time or resources to others? Does it mean you have: Baked? Shopped? Prepared??? What does READY, really mean??? And what are we ready for? Jesus’ birth? Christmas Day? A family gathering?
I think MY ready is tending to my favorite things and events in December!
My favorite thing about the season is the music! I always wait until Thanksgiving Day to play it – it’s a little gift!! My favorite decorations are the Christmas photos I have been taking for 18 years of my kids every December – I get them out and put them all around – it brings me great joy! Our family favorite is our tree! All the ornaments on the tree have meaning – as they have been gifts from family, friends, neighbors, past students – or my kids have made them! This is another real joy for me. Taking December Back has helped me recognize my priorities and to be grateful for my most basic December favorites.
Over the years, I hope we have created family moments and memories that my kids enjoy; and I hope we have moved on from the ones that don’t work. I hope as we grow into our future, we will all be willing to add new traditions and treasure the ones that really count.
I often wonder; Can we take the jolly and joy of December and bring it to the rest of the year? Would we be better for it or exhausted? Is it simply unrealistic to think we could have such intensity all year long?
Taking December Back has brought real intention to my December. It has been hard and it has been rewarding. In the moments where I feel the overwhelm creep up, I have had to remind myself of my family priorities and my own. The good news, it’s never perfect and I am getting better at accepting the imperfections.
May all of you experience the December you so desire – whether it is crazy, calm or somewhere in between.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
KEEP THE PEACE! KEEP THE JOY! KEEP YOUR PRIORITIES!
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