Life has become much busier in the last few weeks.

Added to the endless to-do list that I carry from day to day, is my very own: ‘Things That Shalt be Done to Have a Perfect Holiday Season’ list. From what I can gather, most people have a version of this list, perhaps not a physical, defined list, but at the very least a back-of-mind list of ‘rules’ of what it will take to have a perfect holiday, life, career, weekend…

The stupidest/smartest thing I did this year was wait until the end of November to book our airline tickets home for the holidays. As a result, the cost was three times the amount as last year. Choosing to purchase these golden tickets was a stretch financially and forced me to think about what is really important during the holidays. Being with my absolutely insane family during the holidays: important. Focusing effort and money buying gifts that are forgotten shortly after opening them: not so important.

Reflecting on this, it is clear how much I used the holiday to-do’s as a distraction. But after the busywork, what is left?

Well, a lovely thing is that friends have been popping up more frequently lately, as well. Office parties, dinner with friends, drinks and Kris Kringles…whew!

My very busy friend Vince makes a very big deal about the holidays. Like a ‘good luck finding space to sit in the living room in December because there are gifts and wrapping paper stacked everywhere’ big deal. Not that the gifts are extravagant, but he uses the gifts and holidays as a great excuse to touch base and get together with the people who are important to him.

So here’s to taking foot of the gas pedal a bit, and being present for this fantastic opportunity to spend time with the ones we love and appreciate.

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My Sacred Life: December 1

Playing “Guitar Hero”, for the first time ever. It was in an electronics store, and we played for so long and so terribly that an employee cranked up a boom box in the next aisle to drown us out.