Why do people love the Christmas season so much? For me, Christmas heralds exhaustion and unmet expectations; keeping up with the Joneses and slapping a smile over lips that want to rage. I wish I could find a bland middle-ground during this "happiest season", but this year was not that year. Maybe I'm just contrary enough to want to rebel against the idea of mandatory magic and forced happiness. Who knows?
However, as far as Christmases go, this one wasn't too bad on the whole. Sure, I got picked for jury duty the 2nd week of December and got my period the same day. Okay, so the combat boots I ordered for Sarah in September turned out to be spiky, tacky chanclas (thanks, Amazon and me for not checking as soon as the package arrived.). Yeah, we did all get the flu the last week of school and had get tested for COVID.
But my mom did host the first annual Thrift Store Formal Christmas party. And we got to see Mike's family at a bomb-ass cabin in the mountains of North Carolina, complete with hot-tubbing and karaoke. Also hiking, buuuut I'm a much more skilled jacuzz-er than hiker/nature-lover. Despite all the warnings (starting in JULY) we did not experience any supply-chain issues.
While Christmas may not be my favorite (or even top 10) holiday, New Year's is definitely top 3. I love the blank-slate, fresh-paged potential of a NEW YEAR. Don't worry, this isn't some "New year, new me" thing where I go on some diet, become an organized minimalist, smile all the time, and start loving summer. I will set some resolutions this year, and most of them will be abandoned by March. So what? I'm writing them down here anyway, because guess what resolution #1 is for this year?
1. Write more. Yep, over the past few years, I have all but abandoned a pastime that has been almost daily practice since I learned to write. At this point, it feels like rebuilding an atrophied muscle. Even this garbage I've written so far today has left me tired and winded. In 8th grade, right before our class trip to D.C., I sprained my ankle really bad. Since we'd be on foot all over the city, the doc put me in a walking cast for a few weeks. When they took the cast off, I remember how skinny (and hairy!) my little weak calf was compared to the other leg. This is like rehabbing a muscle, so bear with me.
2. Pray daily for my kids, husband, and family. I'll admit to a little bit of sandbagging here: I already do this (at least for the kids) throughout the day, because, let's face it, these teenage years are TUFF. Teaching middle school is so much more personal when your own children are in middle school - there's no separation between personal and professional. The emotional turmoil my students are going through are the same things my own kids are facing. I send up quick prayers all through the day because I am emotionally flayed and raw.
3. Complete a triathlon. Managing expectations on this one because, Omicron.
4. Start a side-hustle. This one is so cliche, I know. And, don't worry - I'm not going to start selling oils or skincare. Honestly, any desire I had to advance professionally in my career as an educator is gone. At this point, I just want to keep my head down and not get accidentally fired again. Even so, I want to challenge myself (and make $$ if possible). Who knows what random paths can lead to new opportunities? When I was a teenager and even in college, I collected jobs like some people collect stamps, and no matter how bad a fit a job was, it always taught me something and led me in a new direction.
5. Save $300 every month. I did this back when I had my very first job out of college and it saved my A$$. My kids will never know the panic of deciding whether to pay rent or cell phone overage bills.
So, that's it. There are other things, but my flaccid writing muscles are toast.
TTFN.
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