You Can’t Change Christmas

Christmas isn’t my favorite day of year. I don’t like the hype. Or the expense. Or the cold weather. Or that I usually come down with a nasty bug over the holidays.

Despite the extra family time and fabulous food, for many years, Christmas left a bad taste in mouth.

Like the Grinch, I disliked Christmas.

If I had my way, every day would be Christmas. Every day we’d celebrate with family and count our blessings. Every day we’d jump out of bed in the morning, eager to see what surprises await us. Every day would be special and treasured.

And every day, we’d play Elvis Presley songs. (Or maybe that’s just my family.)   

So what changed?

Me.

I changed.

You can’t change Christmas. I know that. And many people, like my children love it. I don’t want to put a damper on their joy and excitement.

There will always be things in life I don’t like. Things I can’t change. I can either accept these things, or be miserable, like the Grinch.

I chose not to be the Grinch.

I now accept Christmas for what it is, and have changed myself to allow me to embrace it.

In September, I shop for presents. In October, I wrap the presents. By the first of November, when the Christmas hype starts, I hardly notice. Or at least, I’m in a position to ignore the hype and not get stressed.

As to expense, I stopped sending cards, which with international postage was costing me nearly 55 bucks (£40) a year. I didn’t enjoy writing them, and I catch up with most people regularly on Facebook. It allowed me to let go of one of my biggest holiday expenses (not to mention one my biggest holiday resentments), and meet Christmas on my own terms.

There’s not much to be done about cold weather and illness. Besides, I can’t blame that on Christmas. But getting in the Christmas spirit and baking cookies with my children kept me (and the house) toasty and warm. Nor did I get ill this year. But I’m a firm believer that a positive attitude is always better for one’s health than a negative one.

Christmas will never be my favorite day of the year. It is what it is.  

You can’t change Christmas. I know that.

But I can change myself.