I LOVE Christmas, Here's Why and How...

by Kathleen Biersdorff
(Calgary, Canada)

OK, I have to admit that I truly like Christmas, which is not to say that I have never had a meltdown related to the season. Once my mother jokingly suggested that I had left my Christmas letters a bit late (I was finishing them up on December 27, far later than my usual efficient self) and I burst into tears.

Time and money are stressors at this time of year. So I try to get a head start on the process. For instance, I buy Christmas presents on my summer vacation trips and make calendars using vacation and other photos for other people (always matching the photo choices to the person).

I also shop on line. I have a computer file that lists who I am buying for and what I am getting them. I keep the lists from previous years so I don't buy something for someone that I bought them in a past year (or re-do a theme for their calendar).

My Christmas decorations make me happy; each ornament has personal meaning and I enjoy spending as much time as possible relaxing in front of the tree at this time of year. I have an artificial tree and learned a few years ago that I could save several thankless hours of decorating if I packed up the tree with the lights still on. I now have the LED lights that cost little to run, so that is another stressor that I no longer have.

I do a general Christmas update letter which I personalize to a limited degree. The mailing label file is updated whenever someone needs to be added, marries, divorces, dies, moves, etc....not in December when the cards and letters need to go out. Some people just get a signed card--like my cousin who has an interesting life and I never see him, but he never even sends me a note with his card.

I used to make a lot more different kinds of cookies when I had many meetings in December. Now I just make the kinds that my family say it is not Christmas without. After all, we really don't need the extra calories.

Finally, I have a good relationship with the Meetings Manager of a hotel in the city where most of the family lives (not where I live) and I have taken to booking a small meeting room with a catered meal on Christmas Day for all of us. We stay in the same hotel and it has worked pretty well for us. They do the decorating, the cooking, and the clean-up. We do the eating and the visiting.

Posted by Kathleen Biersdorff
Research & Communication

SUZIE'S COMMENTS...
Kathleen,

YOU have it all figured out! I love all of you systems for success for the holidays! How you shop all year with the online files, storing the tree with the lights and the hotel party - those are my favorites.

Wish you were @ to help plan my family's holidays!

Thanks for spreading your good Christmas cheer and expertise, here.

All the Best!
Suzie