I always have a hard time answering when someone asks me, "So, are you all ready for Christmas?"
In one sense, there's an easy answer. If by "ready" for Christmas you mean is my house presentable for company, are my presents all bought and wrapped, have my cards all been mailed, is my Christmas baking all finished, have I shopped for turkey dinner ... then heck no.
Not even close.
My house is rarely what one would call "company-ready." I have bought very few presents, and those that have been bought are sitting in their original bags somewhere in my house. (Come to think of it, where did I stow those bags anyway?) We finally just picked up our family photo cards a few days ago, and none of them have been addressed, never mind stamped and mailed. I haven't baked for Christmas in - well, ever. And as for the groceries for turkey dinner? Well, Thrifty's is likely to see me coming sometime around the 23rd.
All of which is to say, I am not a "ready for Christmas" kind of person. Every year I have vague notions about being more organized, about making this the year that I will become one of those people who finishes my holiday preparations by the end of November, right down to the Pinterest-worthy handmade Christmas decorations and tins of homemade shortbread. This year, I think to myself, I will be the one curling up by the fire with a cup of homemade eggnog, relaxing with my feet up and basking in the smug satisfaction of one whose holiday virtuousness knows no bounds.
Every year, reality bursts my lovely little dream bubble when it's suddenly the middle of December and I'm saying, "Where did the time go?" This year, with a busy 17-month-old in the house, I'm even less organized than usual.
But here's the conclusion I have at last reached: None of that stuff I never get around to doing has anything to do with being "ready" for Christmas.
I see so many people - especially people with kids - stressing out at this time of year about all those things. Racing madly around the malls (or clicking madly around the Internet) in search of the perfect gifts. Staying up till ungodly hours to get all the cleaning, baking, decorating and card-writing done, on top of schedules that are already jammed full of kids' Christmas activities, parties, craft-making, school plays, and on and on and on - often on top of office jobs with already hectic schedules.
Here's my utterly unsolicited advice: Let it go. All of it.
OK, there's going to be stuff you have to do. I mean, chances are going to the office is one of those things (I'm pretty sure my editor feels it's mandatory in my case).
And then there's the stuff that truly matters to you and just makes you feel good about the holidays. If you're a person for whom Christmas baking is a soothing, relaxing activity that fulfils your soul, then bake away. If decorating the house is the thing that satisfies your inner artist, then go for it.
But if you're scrambling around so busily that you don't enjoy any of it, then what's the point?
You'd be far, far better off choosing just a few things you want to do and enjoying them wholeheartedly.
Top of that list, for me, is spending time with my husband and my wee sprite. A family trip to the tree farm to bring home a big noble fir, followed by an outing to the New Westminster Santa Claus parade, were just the ticket to help get us into the Christmas spirit. As, of course, was a beautiful Christmas concert sung with my compatriots in the Amabilis Singers.
But other than that, we're not planning a lot.
My wee one has more fun just going for walks around the neighbourhood and looking at the Christmas lights than she would if I tried to schedule some programmed fun for her.
Hearing her little excited voice calling out "Yites! Yites!" as she checks out the holiday lights is a Christmas memory that I didn't have to rush to a mall to buy.
Sitting next to her by the Christmas tree, watching her name the objects she has words for - "baw" "baby" "moo" (that would be balls, angels and reindeer, for those who don't speak toddler) - is more precious than any time I could spend doing anything else to get "ready" for Christmas.
Because "ready," I have learned, is a state of being that has nothing to do with attempting to achieve a Martha Stewart level of holiday perfection.
It has to do with seeing the festivities through the eyes of my toddler. In being open to the wonder of the season. In freeing myself to sit down, to slow down, to take deep breaths and smell the cool winter air and walk along the river and take in the world around me with the realization that new experiences and fresh discoveries are everywhere.
It has to do with being open to the people around me. In stopping to smile and say "Merry Christmas" to those I meet on the street, on the train, at the mall. In seeing the answering smiles on people's faces when the tiny blue-eyed sprite at my side says "hi" and grins up at them. In taking the time to share a moment, a wish, a greeting, a feeling of goodwill with each person I meet.
It has to do with giving. Not stuff, not things bought in malls and wrapped with bows, but time, attention, affection, help, laughter, song, companionship. All the things that make Christmas - regardless of your cultural or religious background - a holiday for all of us to enjoy.
So here's what I've decided.
Next time someone asks me, "are you all ready for Christmas?", I'm going to think about my cluttered house, my unwrapped presents, my unfinished shopping list, my unwritten Christmas cards. And I'm going to smile and answer, from the bottom of my heart: "Absolutely!"
Merry Christmas and the warmest of holiday blessings to all of you.
Julie MacLellan is the assistant editor and arts reporter for The Record and Burnaby NOW newspapers.
