The Holiday Hustle....

by Stephanie Spickler

photo credit Rachel Nourse Photography

The end of the year always seems so busy, with or without kids. We tend to stack our expectations and raise our standards with every passing year. We also indulge, in eating cookies, we splurge on ourselves and pamper our souls, we gather with family and friends. It really is the most wonderful time of the year!

We decorate our homes and warm up those cold, blustery days with home baked goods. We strategically place decadent smelling (and way overpriced, yet completely necessary) Yankee candles. We brighten our homes with freshly cut Evergreen trees, wrapped in dozens of glowing lights. The tree can be so tedious to decorate, but the gorgeous glow is so mesmerizing, the magic of Christmas comes alive.

Most of us run around, handpicking the most perfect gifts for loved ones, putting extra special thought into every detail. It’s the time of year that we handpick gifts to treat ourselves too! We go to the fancy malls and walk store to store, stacking the bags until our arms can’t carry anymore. Some of us spend late night hours or lunch breaks during work scouring the internet, Etsy and Amazon narrowing down the endless possibilities of the perfect gift. We put so much time and effort into making others happy, seeing others smile and light up with joy!

It’s the time of year we remember to splurge on ourselves too! Indulge in an overly relaxing pedicure, try the newest holiday flavor coffee at Starbucks that you’ve been drooling over, invest in that property or stock you have been eyeing up...soak in a hot bath and browse the online retailers for some new pieces for your wardrobe. Whatever it is, do something for yourself.

We wrap gifts for loved ones with care and love, because we want those people to know how much they mean to us. We want to see their eyes brighten when they see the sparkly ribbon perfectly tied. We choose wrapping paper by carefully assessing which one the person receiving the gift, would most enjoy.

It’s the season for family and friends to gather to celebrate together - some of us travel by plane, car, bus and trains to be with loved ones. To hug and chat and laugh about the year in review. We prepare a decadent dinner for all to enjoy, set the table with our best china and bust out the bubbly and the eggnog!

Some of us are extravagant, over the top and work hard to go all out when it  comes to the cost of the season. We remind ourselves the real meaning of the Holidays - Though we get caught up in the glitz and glam of the season, there is deeper meaning. And we all know that. So we open our hearts and give all the love we possibly can to our friends and families, we’re extra nice to strangers...Except when driving, because its a well known fact everyone is a bad, angry, driver during the holiday -  kidding, totally kidding!

All the running around from store to store, all the concentration we use planning the perfect holiday meal, all the physical labor we put into our meals and cookies, all of the love we put into wrapping, all of the decor - all of the time we spend designing the perfect holiday “look”.  All of the Hustle. All of the Bustle. Is it worth it? YES!!! It’s all so worth it!

But seriously … don’t forget to treat yourself & give yourself as much love as you give others this season.

Happy Holidays!

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