A Glittering Christmas

As I lie here on my settee, in my quite small studio (but STUDIO, just the same,) the house is finally quiet. The children & husband are asleep, my best friend, Pono, ( our 8 month old Shar-pei mix,) is sleeping protectively at my side, & I now have a moment to reflect.
For some reason, I find myself feeling a little emotional at the moment, & I’m not quite sure why.

Feelings come & go–sometimes for very clear reasons and,at other times, reasons not so clear.
Alas, though, there are always reasons, which sometimes are revealed at a later, more appropriate time. I often find myself overwhelmed with emotion at transitional times. While the season of Christmas is a very joyous time for me, personally, it is also a season of often overwhelming expectations. Personal expectations, familial expectations, religious expectations, and job expectations often suck the pure joy out of the season, replacing it with exhaustion and burnout. Even though I have intentionally played down the element of material giving for the past several years, some things still seems to creep up on me. Children, of which I have two (8 & 11) are VERY excited about this whole buildup that they’ve been waiting for for an entire year! They even get out of school for at least two weeks, which MUST make it really special! Their expectations are high, and, therefore, being a normal, guilt-ridden parent of my era, I fall for it hook, line, & sinker. But herein lies the problem. I tell myself that I will not overindulge, but then suddenly, when it’s too late for on-line, on-time shipping costs, I begin to realize that I have, indeed, overlooked a few details in my quest for freedom. Which always involves last minute trips to local shops & (gasp) THE MALL, where everything has, indeed, been picked over, or requires excessive shipping costs.

During this season, also comes my birth-day, 12/12. This is also the Feast Day of the Virgen of Guadalupe. I’ve set up a shrine to celebrate her, and am so honored to have been born on Her Feast Day.

In addition, my daughter’s b-day is on 12/29 & my Father’s on 12/28; not to mention New Years Eve. & New Years Day. Oh, and did I mention that we are having out- of -town guests from12/10-12/18, & again on 12/23-12/26??

Yes, & there’s also the preparation for my 12/17-12/19 Art Show, which I am organizing as we speak; also my Honolulu debut, as I’ve only been here a year.

And here I am launching a blog/web site in the middle of all of this! Nobody said that life would be all neat & orderly & perfectly timed, so I CHOOSE to take advantage of opportunities as they arise in my life if they are RIGHT. If they are not, I postpone or release them. This was THE time for me to do this, & all of the aforementioned things.

I now choose what is right for me & when, then proceed. It wasn’t always this way for me, but I have now CHOSEN to take the reins of my own destiny. I listen to my inner voice, rather than the external coercions. To do so is peaceful and satisfying. Try saying “Yes” to your inner voice during this most Sacred of seasons, as it is for so many of us & “No, Thank You,” to that which doesn’t serve you well on your most personal journey. I know that so many women out there are feeling so overwhelmed, under appreciated, & unworthy at this time ( it’s actually documented,) but at what cost? I am personally choosing, TODAY, to move forward through December with grace & joy! Won’t you please join me on this revolutionary decision??!!  I’ve been amazed in the past when I have done this, how things miraculously “work out.” People will ” step up , ” when necessity arises. The days of “Superwoman” are over, Ladies. It just took too much away from the true joy of life.
So– this Holiday Season, I challenge each of you reading this to ask for help, hire help, or take advantage of the loads of pre-prepared DELICIOUS meals out there that you can heat and serve, put on your own platters, and no one will know the difference!  I just want women to be happy again! , rather than trying to be the PERFECT MOM, wife, entertainer, housekeeper, employee, etc., etc.! We deserve to be served & valued for WHO we are, not how moist our turkey came out this year!!

Love, fun, & blessings to you during this beautiful season,

With love & a sprinkling of glitter on top,

Happy Holidays to all of you!!!,

Glitter Gypsy