Watching “The Muppet's Christmas Carol” last night and listening to Kermit sing, I realized there are only 12 sleeps til Christmas. I don’t even really remember September. We’ve been eating mostly clean, except for the glasses of wine on weeknights, occasional cookies and/or piece of pie. Every weekend has been booked with parties (more wine) and these coming ones won’t be any less hectic. We leave Saturday for our Christmas trip to the other side of the country, via two other states, and I am starting to fray.
Trying to have serious conversations with myself about this doesn’t help, since my kids keep asking me who I am talking to. So, I decided to write ideas down.
Kill the WODs.
Try and make a sweat angel on the ground after every workout of the day. Whether you are traveling or family comes to you, it’s easy to let go of the box. Stay on the path! Even if you don’t hit it everyday like you usually would, hit it as hard as you can when you go. You’ll keep your piece of mind over the piece of pie!
Drink and Be Merry.
Increase your water intake. If you are like me and have eaten some cookies, you need more water. Most Americans can’t tell the difference between thirst and hunger, and with lots of cocktail parties, you might need a hydration check.
No “coffee and cake” time.
Try not to drink any caffeine after noon, but if you must, to please your grandmother who likes coffee after dinner, make it decaf. You will look much better for the family photos and be full of yule-tide cheer with more hours of rest. Also, choose your dessert well. Make sure it was made with love and you will savor every morsel before you put it in your mouth. And, p.s., pillsbury dough cookies are NOT eye-rolling, sigh-filled, melt-in-your-mouth cookies. Let your fingers walk right on by those.
Bask.
Amid the packing for the flight, wrapping Santa gifts, or shopping for ANOTHER pair of tights for your daughter... just stop. Take a walk and remark on the beauty of winter where you live or are visiting. Breathe deep the frigid air and let the escaping air take all the holiday frenzy with it. Remember what the season is all about...love, being together, faith. And even if your baby girl does tear yet another hole in those tights from playing too hard, she’ll have you there to kiss the tears away. What better present can there be?
