Year end RE-CREATION!

One of my son's  Swiss teachers told the class on an October day that the time of year when  he stops going into shops is when he hears the tunes of “Jingle bells” inside, while outside leaves are still turning into red and yellow colours,  it is fifteen to twenty degrees and he is enjoying the beauties of autumn. I highly agreed with him, I also avoid shopping at this time as much as  I can. Children around Basel are just back from the autumn holiday, they should be concentrating on second quarter learning challenges and exploring seasonal experience.

November is the month, when whatever I do,  I can't ignore the fact that December and the year end festivities are nearer and nearer  with all its  "to do's".  There are tools to make this period   smoother, less stressed, more effective,  more perfect, less hectic, more planned. But do we hear people talking about these times as enjoyable, enriching, connecting, fulfilling and  relaxing?

Delivery services ring our bell in November offering Christmas catalogues, wanting to take orders already.  If not until now, an  urging internal pressure surfaces to start planning where,  who, when, how much and what  TO DO. I can't get out of the way of the standard happy family faces appearing in advertising anymore.  This is a  time when I am longing for even more authenticity than usual.

Years ago I started buying theater or  concert tickets for December 23rd evening to distract ourselves from the to do's,  to get lifted above the pragmatic pressures of  preparation for these  demanding and challenging days. Is there a better way?

December is supposed to be the time when we slow down and give ourselves and one another valuable time.  What could be more precious?  If I look back to my childhood, the best moments  around Christmas time were when we created handmade decoration for the Christmas tree together. The  main point was on "together".  

CREATE and RECREATE !  Why didn't it occur to me before to rename this period’s  "to do"  list to   "creating" list ?

To create a festive atmosphere

To create a connected atmosphere

To create gifts

To create an experience  as  a gift

To create our own space for recreation

To create peace

To create ourselves as much as we can the articles we surround ourselves with

To look back what we have created the year behind

To think abut what we want to create in the future

To create  meaning to festivity

To create time for recreation...

…and there are so many more things to create at this time of the year before, besides and beyond getting our  to do list done.

 I feel much more relaxed already!   Do you have a tip for the season to share?