Time for Christmas
Hello Dear Reader, how are you? Believe me, I know that can be a very loaded question this time of year. While I’m sure there are some of you out there who have it all well in hand: presents bought, wrapped and under the tree, cookies baked, cards mailed, parties planned, etc., there are those of us way, way, way on the other end of that spectrum who are hurdling towards the big day with a ton of “To Dos” left to be done. Those who despite every best intention of starting earlier so as to ‘finally get a handle on the holidays’ are very far from it. Oh sure, there are those folks somewhere in the middle – the “I’ve just got a few last minute things” and the “we’re pairing back this year” people. And indeed there are those who, for one reason or another, simply don’t celebrate the season at all. I think that covers the bases. When you map it out like that it’s a really broad spectrum. I guess that’s why, when tasked with writing an article to appeal to everyone at this time of year, I’ve been struggling. I’m more than confident I could write for my Christmas Crazy kindred spirits, but what could I possibly offer the already organized, let alone the people who abstain altogether? I started to see the assignment as a kind of like a motley gift list. You know where you totally know what to buy for your best friend, but then there’s that hard to buy for boss, and the neighbour who has everything and that’s when it hit me and I knew what gift would appeal to everyone. The one thing money can’t buy. The one thing that’s the same for everyone in every category – no matter your race or religion, your political affiliation, your financial situation or global location. The greatest of all great equalizers – time! So my friends here’s hoping this article will offer you some much deserved quality time this Christmas.
Now, hear me out. I’ve had “One More Week,” “Another Hour,” and “Just Five More Minutes” on my wish list for the past I don’t know how many years, so I’ll be the first to admit no amount of hoping and praying is ever going to deliver additional time in terms of quantity, but I’m hopeful this feature will give you a few ideas for making the most of the time you have this holiday season and maybe, just maybe, in the New Year too. I’m thinking there may even be some ideas the ‘Marthas’ among you may just incorporate (since you’ve already got everything else well in hand.) And with any luck, even those who’d just as soon see the whole season come and go might just find a glimmer of ‘worthwhile’ among my humble suggestions. I’ve been careful in my compilation, taking into consideration both age and means so that what follows are, in most cases, free and accessible. True, there are a few you could go to town with, but please remember my goal was to deliverable the doable, the actionable, the enjoyable, and the simplest ideas so you could simply enjoy some time this Christmas. So here goes (in no particular order)
Consider cutting coupons
I’m starting with this one because of all the ideas on my list – this one ticks the most boxes. Truth be told I’ve used this one on more than one occasion and under a wide variety of circumstances. For sure during those times when funds a low, and times when I’ve forgotten to buying something entirely, but also when I was looking to give something money couldn’t buy – my time and attention. When you start to think about coupons in that light, they become a truly priceless gift. For in return for your service – be it an offer to do the laundry for a month or 5 driveway clearings or 10 foot-rubs – what you’re really offering is the gift of time to the recipient. Time freed up from folding, or shoveling, time to do something else they’d rather be doing or time to relax with their feet up… literally. Sure coupons can be for things too like dinners out or movie nights in, but what’s most important is the thoughtfulness you weave into your offering. As for packaging you can be as fancy as you wish, but I can remember a time in high school where I cut an 8.5 x 11 sheet of paper into 16 rectangles, hand wrote each one them stapled it together in a booklet. It included everything from unloading the dishwasher to vacuuming the house to every other household chore and my mother used every one of those coupons with a glee. In fact, I’d be willing to bet if we all took a minute to examine the people on our gift lists there would be something we could take off their plate, that would either free up their time to do something else, or better still include a special time for just the two of you.
Making the most of it
I remember when I was little so much of the holiday season was spent popping over to the neighbours, welcoming in friends and visiting ours relatives. The one constant among all those occasions and destinations was all the homemade sweets. Hours spent baking up batches for one gathering or another. Treasured recipes passed down through the generations along with mouth watering memories. And yet, somewhere along the way, between the crowded schedules and the ready to buy variety tins, convenience has folks convinced that’s the best way to go. But hear me out when I tell you this ~ I’d argue ‘convenience’ might just be the culprit that has systematically removed the spirit of the season. Think about it. The time that used to be spent baking was time spent creating which is always good for your spirit. Back then the time spent baking allowed for teaching technique and passing along secret tips to the next generation. Back then folks might just have baked in solitude when the kids were at school or asleep and it served as quiet reprieve from the chaos of the day. My late mom’s mother Kathleen Fleming (Mom Flem to us) always said “bake with love so that anyone who eats what you bake feels loved.” Hard to get any of that from a store bought tin of cookies. Please understand – I hear you out there waving wildly. I appreciate not everyone loves to bake and yes, there are some absolutely delightful bakeries in my hometown too – don’t get me wrong. Cookies are simply a means of saying sometimes making the gifts we give allows us to get a little something in the process. Making something with love is the sweetest gift to give.
Stop and smell the snowflakes
Go ahead call me Bing because I have, for as long as I can remember, always dreamed of a white Christmas. Growing up mostly in Ontario snow was a given. Oakville and Burlington would see at least a good foot and Orillia two and three if not more. In fact with the exception of the two years my family spent in Trinidad, when my father was transferred there with the Bank of Nova Scotia and my Mom had me convinced Santa didn’t need snow to get there because he was magic, my memories of the season were always covered in a blanket of white. Now that I’m grown and my work has had me in all sorts of places including Edmonton (don’t get me started on the snow) and now back to Nova Scotia where, thanks to the ocean’s ever changing ways we’re more apt to get a light dusting on the big day if we’re lucky. Still, I find myself yearning for the days of old. When the lights glowed through the snow-covered eaves and front yard bushes, and your footsteps were the first to make tracks along the deep and crunchy sidewalks. But here’s the thing you don’t need snow to take it all in – just get out into it this season! Go for a walk just after the sun rises or better yet at dusk so you can peer through the windows and see how the other folks are celebrating. The health benefits of walking are well documented as are the mental benefits too. In addition to improving cardiovascular health, easing joint pain, and helping with weight loss (source), walking has been proven to boost creativity, improve alertness and promote problem solving too (source). I’m giving you all that proof on the off chance you need more convincing, but truth be told I’m hoping you’ll just give yourself the time to walk through the world and take some time to wonder at it all. Keep your phone in your pocket and keep your head up so you won’t miss the chance to see all there is to see. You don’t need a destination, you don’t need a purpose, you only need to give yourself time to breath in and out, and take stock as you go. Time to think about where you’re heading and what you aim to do when you get there.
Play around
Seems pretty simple when I put it like that, but you’d be surprise how few of us do… play around that is. Back in my day we’d wait all year for Santa to bring the one big present – the Barbie camper, the Hot Wheel garage, the table-top hockey game, and boy oh boy when he did we’d play for hours and hours. Friends would come over to see what we got and we’d head over to their houses to play with their gifts too. There wasn’t as much given throughout the year back then so there was something truly special about a toy that you wished for finally arriving. It sure felt magical. It was really something if your parents got down on the carpet and played along too. It’s been a while since my daughter had a toy on her wish list but I still make a point to put some sort of game under the tree or in her stocking. That way we both get to play on Christmas morning. A family friend told me a story I’ll never forget – how poor her family was growing up and how she’d always dreamed of having a dolly. All fate would have it all her children were boys so even though she had the means, it was all trucks and sports and such. It wasn’t until her first granddaughter came along that she was finally able to buy the doll she’d always dreamed. Needless to say she was giddy, until the little girl followed her into the kitchen to watch her cook. And that beautiful doll? It was left by the tree so that the little girl could sit as she always did with her ‘favourite big pot’ and a brown potato to “play cooking with Nanny.” Now, I know it’s a rarity for Santa bring kids pots and potatoes and I’m not suggesting we wrap them up either, but it’s worth nothing while we could go crazy spending money on gifts, spending quality time with the ones you love is a pretty great gift on its own.
Tell a few stories
Reading to someone you love is a great gift to be sure of it, but sometimes recalling from memory or “stories from your mouth” as my daughter used to call them, are the sweetest kind. Maybe their tall tales once told to you my your favourite storyteller, or maybe they’re simply recollections of holidays past. The time the cat climbed up the tree and batted the angel into the punch bowl, the year whole village lost power so instead of a turkey we huddled up eating chips and playing cards by candlelight. You get the idea I’m sure of it. It’s also a lovely way to remember all the ones we’re missing at Christmas. Heaven knows we all have those. Remembering the good times when they were here and telling those stories is a great way to keep their memory alive. And if you’re alone this Christmas, write a few of your favourite memories down. I can confidently report more than a few best sellers and award-winning screenplays started with a real life holiday happenstance – why not make your seasonal story the next big thing!
Make new traditions
As previously declared – I’m Christmas crazy, but in fairness, I get it honestly. My affinity is predisposed having descended from a long line of Christmas lovers, but I wholeheartedly embraced the genetic coding and if anything have amped it up over the years. Fortunately for me all that holiday heritage came with multiple generations worth of decorations and some truly tasty traditions. One includes a centuries old Newfoundland Christmas Fruit Cake (recipe here) which you haven’t lived till you’ve tried, and another involves the Swinimer Family Fudge which I even made on camera with my Aunt Rae (total legend!) I’m pleased to say my daughter loves Christmas too and even prouder to note that we’ve started our very own traditions. Like the one that began when she was 3 and we set off into the woods at my cousin’s camp to find her a little Charlie Brown tree. Now, fifteen Christmases later not only has she grown, but so has our ‘little’ tree. You can read more about our little Schmantle Tree tradition plus get the recipe for favourite ‘Christmas in a Bowl’ here. Another big deal in our house in the Advent Calendar. I have an ever-growing collection but one very special one my mom gave to my daughter when she was 10. Every year since I’ve filled it with fun little treats and it provides the perfect way to countdown to Christmas as well as a daily moment spent in salute to my late mother Margaret. This year, while scrolling through the socials, I found another awesome approach to the countdown I wish I knew about when she was little – wrapping up picture books and putting them under the tree so that every night of December in the lead up to the 25th you pick the book with the corresponding number then sit and read as a family. Sure they could be new, or a great mix of their cherished favourites wrapped up for the fun of it.
Give a little of your time
While it’s true the holidays hit differently for everyone, the true meaning of Christmas comes complete with promise of hope, goodness and kindness for all. It sure does a heart good to give, but the results from studies around giving of your time to help others report overwhelming benefits beyond just the emotional. From reduced stress and anxiety to a sense of belonging and purpose (source), even enhanced cognitive function. With our own hard earned dollars being stretched to the max is tricky to find any extra to give to all those deserving charities, but giving of time doesn’t cost a dime. Playing games or entertaining the residents at a seniors home – such a huge it. Serving at a shelter – so much appreciated. Coaching and mentoring through the local Boys’ & Girls’ clubs – so incredibly rewarding. Maybe your calendar is full this holiday season, but make note for the New Year and set aside some of your time to help others in need. I guarantee you’ll see the benefits in your own life too.
Well there it is Dear Reader and no matter how you chose to use your time this festive season I sure hope you make the most of it, and make some truly marvellous memories while you’re at it! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
