Slowing Down To Be Present At The Holidays

CELEBRATIONS | by SHERRY STRIPLING

ON CHRISTMAS DAY, WE RUN FROM HOUSE TO HOUSE, opening presents with family. We eat too much. We drive too much. And we miss most of what’s happening because we’re lost in the frenzy of being late.

© iSTOCKPHOTO.COM

Nature tripped up our annual ordeal last year. In the process, it changed my perspective on what it means to “be present” on holidays, giving me the courage to say “No” to being spread so thin.

In December 2008, ice froze on top of ice in Seattle ― adding perilous roads to our usual, exhausting dash. Our first two stops were close to home. But brunch was with my sister and dad in Seattle, followed by dinner with my aunt’s family across the treacherous city.

“We’re going for it,” I told my sister by phone halfway through the day, taking on the 60-mile journey to join her and my dad for what we both knew might be my dad’s last Christmas because of lung disease.

We arrived late. Snow started up again. My dad put a log on the fire.  And I let go.

I let go of the worry of letting down my aunt in favor of spending unhurried time with my father, who was delighted to see his grandson.  I handed my dad his fiddle and picked up his guitar as Alex, 20, set up the keyboard he’d gotten for Xmas so we could jam, a rare, wonderful event. Then we luxuriated over presents.

Life comes at a pace that seems designed for distractions. We were forced by snow to focus on the here and now, which gave us treasured, last Christmas memories with my dad.

This year our attention will be on my aunt as we deliberately slow, making choices to gain unhurried hours. I hope you can do the same.