How To Survive The Holiday Chaos
Well friends, Thanksgiving Meal #1 is over. Some of you may be racing to Meal #2 to appease the family. Where I am kind of jealous of those of you who have large families who want (and expect) to spend every holiday with you, I have to admit I like the slow pace we have in our family. Smaller families and large distances keep us from even expecting to spend every holiday with relatives.
The mad dash begins for all of us. We are all gearing up for the pressure to be everything, do everything, and attend every event between Thanksgiving and Christmas. But do we really? Is this something that Satan has nonchalantly slid across the table, and we have received his lie as truth?
Here are the questions for you to consider before the season begins:
1. What would need to be true for you to grow in love, joy, and peace during this year’s run?
What would you have to say no to, to make that a reality? What would you say yes to? And here’s another one worth asking: What could we do more simply—something that keeps the meaning of the experience, but requires less time and energy?
2. What do your closest family and friends want from you this year?
What do they want you to be fully present for—not just show up at? Ask them. Then put those moments on your 2026 calendar now. Try hard to keep those as non-negotiable dates.
3. What are you cramming into the Thanksgiving-to-Christmas run that could actually wait until late January?
I, for one, REALLY struggle mentally during January and February. I think we all need something to look forward to in the dark days of winter and loosened up the holiday schedule for everyone.
Let’s not worry about what we are missing out on or who we might be letting down. Did you pass on the gravy? Let’s also pass on the pressure and pace. Let’s not pass on the people in our lives. You really don’t have to prove anything to anyone.
“Breathe deep, hold things loosely, and let love and peace rise to the surface again.” -Brian Rutherford