I love words, but sometimes there are just far too many of them in this world.

First, I Was Instructed by social media and media in general to have a HAPPY! and MERRY! holiday at the end of last year. To CELEBRATE! Jesus’ birth, and show GOODWILL TO ALL MANKIND!

These are already tall orders for the tired and jaded human.

They feel like such bossy words–the underlying meaning is that I Am A Failure if I don’t meet those #goals.

What if I just want a quiet holiday with two garlands and some red and green clothed stuffed gnomes and a snowman or two the cat can’t break? And a three foot tree that sits on my desk, rather than a GLORIOUS full tree decked out with lights, ribbons, and roughly three-hundred hanging balls, houses, stars, hearts, angels, and some broken old Wise Men from my childhood?

What if that’s what makes me happy?

Then the New Year comes–and with it, NEW EXPECTATIONS!

Now I’m expected to think along the lines of NEW YEAR, NEW YOU!! And a word of the year to guide my growth along the proper channels and a long list of Things I Will Do Better This Year, not to mention All The Things That Need Cleaning and Organizing in my home.

Another list to accompany THOSE lists, to break them down further.

Why can’t January 1st simply be the first day of the next year? You know, like, “Great! The first day of the year is a Monday. Cool.”

WHY ALL THE PRESSURE??

Those of you who love the lists, love the words to highlight your #goals, years, holidays, go ahead and enjoy them!

I need a break this year, so I’m taking one. Giving myself permission, as it were, to relax.

I’ll be over here in the corner of my couch, binge-watching seasons of Poirot on Britbox, knitting, and trying out my Belgian accent.

You start without me, and don’t wait for me to catch up.

If you need a break, take one. It’s okay!

AN AFTERTHOUGHT:

I need to practice better self-kindness, (if that’s even a thing). Listen to my body, my brain. Rest when I need to, push when I need to do that. I’m far harder on myself than anyone else could be.

How about you?