Mahler’s Monday Morning Motivator # 143 – Prep School

[Mahler]

Mahler’s Monday Morning Motivator # 143 – Prep School


Prep School


About two weeks ago, the annual changes started taking place around the neighborhood, and I suspect around neighborhoods across the land. The ladders came out, the boxes were liberated from their captivity in countless attics and basements, and folks everywhere began that age-old ritual of preparing for the holidays by invoking four letter epithets at strings of tangled lights. Amazing it is, indeed, that a device designed to brighten our holidays can cast such a cloud over our feelings in the process of installation and preparation.

Yet, those lights went up on house after house in a panoply of color and brightness that was sure to put a smile on the face of every power company CEO sitting encased in their leather chairs and looking out the window of the corner office. Make no mistake, the activities of the past few weekends were sure to contribute in no small way to global warming as every power grid literally hummed with the “warmth” of the holiday season generated by the millions of little twinkle bulbs drawing current like suckling babes feeding from their mother’s breast.

Inside those homes there was, and will continue to be, more activity as recipe cards are hunted down like escapees to find the magic formula to make those favorite cookies or that tasty cheese ball or dip. Trees will be decorated; food cooked; parties planned; shopping done; presents wrapped and a hundred other things, all in preparation for “the day.” Yes, that single day. And if memory serves me, that single day will come and go in a blur of almost surreal and dreamlike proportions. More of it will be appreciated in our memories than in the actual events.

How strange it is that we often get so involved in preparing for an event that we have precious little time to actually enjoy what we have been preparing for. Plug in just about any event here, be it a party, a wedding, a prom, a vacation and I think you get where I am heading. And, indeed, life is like that, too. We are often in a continuing state of preparation, of getting ready and we don’t often take the time to enjoy, to taste, to savor the moments that we have been preparing for.

So, with that in mind, I have a few recommendations that I call Prep School. These will help you get through the holidays and are designed to take a few side trips along the way.

1) Sure, put up the lights and decorations, but take an evening and hop in the car with the family and go for a drive and look at the decorations, too.
2) Shop till you drop, but plan to meet a friend or your significant other for lunch or dinner. Believe me, the “bargains” will be there when you have wiped that last morsel of pie from your lips.
3) Cook and bake all the holiday goodies for your gatherings, but put a few aside for a little private celebration of your own with just your immediate family.
4) Wrap all the gifts with ribbons and bows, but give yourself and others the gift of your time for something special. If you are so busy preparing that you have no time for others, what is the sense in it all.
5) Take an evening here and there and watch a movie or sit and relax. You really do owe it to yourself.
6) Make the process of preparing as much a part of the holidays as the big day itself.
7) And my favorite: Don’t turn off the lights and put all the glitz and glitter out by the curb the day after. That’s the time to enjoy all the hard work you have done for the past month. There will be time enough for that after the New Year.

Feel free to add to these as we all have little tips that get us through the holidays. I mean besides your favorite alcoholic beverages, that is. Have a great one.

[EdChap]

8) Don't wake the entire house up at 7 am to open presents, especially when you're 19!

Nice one, John.

[finboy]

Originally Posted by EdChap

8) Don't wake the entire house up at 7 am to open presents, especially when you're 19!

You'd never make it at my house Ed. Let's talk 5:30-6:00am.

Nice John.
9) Don't forget giving to charities...this time of year they have great needs.

[Jean-Paul]

10) and then always remember to take your tree down in late Feb.

Thanks, John. I will actually apply some of these. Good advice.

[Iamjennmedic]

Awesome John! My boys and I sit with the fireplace going and the tree lite up in the darkened room nightly Its nice quiet time with my favorite little guys which is what really matters the most.

[Jimbo]

"savor the moments" - very very good advice and I needed reminding. Thanks

[OldGuy]

Good one John. Due to the divided nature of my family I get a lot of free quiet time on the holidays. So mine is:

11) Take some time to think about all the good things you have, and let the troubled things have the day off. Actually, give them a couple of days off.

[Lost Dog]

Originally Posted by OldGuy

Good one John. Due to the divided nature of my family I get a lot of free quiet time on the holidays. So mine is:

11) Take some time to think about all the good things you have, and let the troubled things have the day off. Actually, give them a couple of days off.

I'll second that one.

Merry Christmas.

[jj]

12) Sing a few Carols with your family and sing like you do in the shower(Like no one is listening)

Great post John, we do often get in such a hurry to prepare for an event, that we forget to enjoy it and before you know it, it is over and you feel it wasn't worth the effort.

[GG300]

13. The holidays are a great time to celebrate old family traditions that you may have enjoyed with Grandparents or other family that are no longer with you. It is a great way to keep their memories alive. Great thoughts John.

[UConnJulie]

14. Remember the "reason for the season" ... celebrate the miracle that is your life every day ...

Thanks John for the reminders!!

[LT Hebert]

Excellent advice. Usually we're too busy this season to stop and actually enjoy it!

[Rotwang]

Thanks, Mahler.

[RobLL]

The pedantic note: The Twelve Days of Christmas: From Christmas Eve through Epiphany, the 6th of January. (don't count'm on your fingers, it don't quite add up)

[rgv]

Originally Posted by Mahler

6) Make the process of preparing as much a part of the holidays as the big day itself.

My family always forgets this one so I really love it when people do take it to heart.

thanks mahler

[RacerBill]

15. Make some time to make the holiday special for someone who may be alone this year -- a shut-in neighbor, a widow or widower, a student from overseas, a service member or their family, etc.

[canuckguy]

16. It isn't what you eat between Christmas & New Years that makes the difference, it's what you eat between New Years & Christmas. So don't be afraid to enjoy the odd treat.