Fortune Cookie Friday: Very Merry or Very Scary?

Hey, we made it through Halloween, that scary holiday of the year. Or is it? When I was a kid, I didn’t understand the tension that arose after we put our costumes away. Back then, Christmas music didn’t start playing on the radio until closer to Thanksgiving. Now, it begins on November 1st. Heck, I’ve already seen winter holiday decorations in the stores since September. It’s hard to get into the holiday spirit when your just buying school supplies or hear eight versions of the same festive song in one day.

The holidays didn’t use to be stressful for me. I partook in the annual family traditions with the zeal of most young kids. I anticipated good food, hanging with my cousins, and opening presents. Once I had children, hosted dinners, and began my own retail business, the stress started to build. This year also includes participating in NaNoWriMo (you can find out more about that decision here)—what was I thinking?

Getting today’s fortune was a pleasant surprise. Granted, I don’t put much validity into prognostications like this, but with my busy schedule, every little bit helps. I intend to host Thanksgiving this year, and I will have to work my preparations around writing, marketing, illustrating, and other time-consuming activities.

Please don’t take what I say as complaining. On the contrary, I would probably go a little loopy if my only purpose for the next few weeks was planning one dinner with my family. I am more relieved that there is a possibility that things won’t drastically fail. Luckily, I have a fabulous hubby that will help me out.

It is easy to let the stresses of the season get to us. We try to fit too much into our busy lives and expect too much out of our plans. The madness of buying a turkey, cooking a meal, and finding enough room to seat everyone doesn’t have to consume our psyche. We need to remember the reason for the festivities—family.

Will I feel tension when I am juggling too many dishes in my small kitchen or when they play the rewrite of “Baby, It’s Cold Outside”? Probably, but I will have a little hope that in the grand scheme of things, it won’t matter. I will be surrounded by loved ones that are happy that they didn’t have to do all of the work. Fingers crossed.