It’s Christmas Eve and hubby and I are keeping it quiet this year. Or rather, I am. As I type, he is engaged in fervent online warfare with his brother, having recently – finally – discovered the joys of X-Box Live. Safe for the sounds of gunfighting and valiant fighters dying and er, respawning(?), it is actually really peaceful.
For several days now, I’ve been thinking about a post to mark Christmas this year. But despite the exchanging of presents during my office’s annual Secret Santa (I got a lovely jewellery box I’m sure exceeded the pre-set budget, thank you Secret Santa!), the dressing up (everyone wore red, white and/or green yesterday), and the Christmas decorations and carols that accompany the holiday season, I’m still not quite feeling that Christmas cheer. The mood comes and goes, but for the most part, it stays away.
Then today, as I was driving home from work, I realised that it doesn’t matter. Because not feeling the Christmas cheer doesn’t mean I’m not celebrating Christmas. I am, but unlike last year, we’re keeping it quiet this year, and I might be the better for it. I’m in the mood for quiet, for peace, for writing and reading and contemplating and, not least, relaxing and doing nothing. And that’s as much what Christmas should be about as it is about everything else. Maybe even more.
I didn’t plan on taking much time off work at first, but seeing as hubby has been given the rest of the year off, I decided at the last minute to do the same. I joke that it’s going to be my last chance at a long, peaceful break, just me and hubby, for the next 20 years. Christmas will never be the same again. Just thinking about the week ahead makes me wonderfully happy so I know I made the right decision. For someone who isn’t really feeling the Christmas cheer, maybe I’m not doing so bad after all.
Merry Christmas, everyone!
cool… at least i am not the only who doesn’t feel the christmas cheer too.. went to bed at 9.30 on christmas eve… how cool.
Hope you have a better New Year’s Eve :) Happy New Year!