Catapult Alumni
| Nonfiction
Can’t it be Christmas Every Day?
Most of the time during the holidays you’ll hear someone somewhere say they wish it could be Christmas every day. At least once. One of the things people hate more than anything is when something you’re looking forward to has passed. When big events are over, the time directly afterward is fairly anti-climactic. Of course, […]
Most of the time during the holidays you’ll hear someone somewhere say they wish it could be Christmas every day. At least once.
One of the things people hate more than anything is when something you’re looking forward to has passed. When big events are over, the time directly afterward is fairly anti-climactic. Of course, it’s disappointing – all the presents have been opened, and it’s entirely possible your NYE resolutions have already been broken. You may have what is the dreaded holiday hangover.
One of the reasons the hullaballoo around Christmas is so extensive is that it is something to look forward to for quite a while. At this point, stores stock holiday decor at the same time people are picking pumpkins for Halloween. You can’t go anywhere after Thanksgiving without hearing Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas” playing at varying decibels around shopping centers and restaurants. The day after Christmas, there’s shopping to be done. And several days later, it’s time to entertain and party all over again for the New Year.
After New Year’s Eve, there’s a blank slate waiting for us. It’s also anticlimactic because it’s something we’ve been waiting for. These holidays come and go, bringing and taking their merriment with them. Unfortunately, what goes up must also come down. It’s normal to feel a bit blue after the holidays, especially if they didn’t go the way you were expecting them to.
Getting rid of your holiday hangover isn’t necessarily something that’s doable in one day. Returning to work after a week of lazy mornings that turn into even lazier afternoons can put a damper on anyone’s mood. Besides, it’s probable you haven’t even looked at your email since the day before your office closed for the holidays. Chances are, everyone is feeling it too but there’s a way to prevent the blues from getting you (next year).
Next year, remember that Christmas isn’t just a season, it’s a state of mind. Finding something to look forward to, plan for, and eagerly await while trying to meet the hopes and expectations of everyone you love is a lot! It takes consciously considering what you want out of the season and how you plan to get it. So with that in mind, the excitement of Christmas isn’t limited to the most popular toys of this calendar year. Thoughtfulness isn’t limited to the time spent in a store searching for the perfect gift.
Look at the calendar as a whole, breaking it up into segments that are worth being excited about. Even if you missed photos with Santa with your babies this year, you could bring them to get pictures with the Easter Bunny, and settle on that as a new tradition.
There’s Valentines Day, Saint Patrick’s Day, and more to keep you looking forward to something year round instead of simply wishing for Christmas, all over again.