If you look out over the horizon you might see a dark figure in the distance. That figure is approaching slowly, but you can tell it is heading your way. What is it? It is Halloween. What you cannot see are three more figures following closely behind: Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s.
Yes, summer is still winding down. But remember that Halloween is now less than eight weeks away. Once it passes you only have three weeks until Thanksgiving and then another month before Christmas and New Year’s. It’s like a train. Once it starts rumbling through the station, there’s no stopping it.
You might be the kind of person whose life turns to chaos from mid-October through mid-January. If so, you are not alone. A lot of people struggle to maintain any semblance of order at this time of year. We are here to help if we can. My Divine Concierge offers expert service in everything from home organization to event planning.
No Need to Panic
The first bit of advice we can offer heading into the busy holiday season is to not panic. The holidays are not as big a deal as a lot of people make them out to be. Rather than obsessing over every little detail and wondering how you are going to cope, make a concerted effort to relax and breathe.
Halloween is a great holiday for kids and adults alike. It is a great day to dress up in silly costumes and stuff your face with candy. While the kids are out trick-or-treating, mom and dad are back at home enjoying a Halloween party with friends. It’s all good.
Guess what? The events of Halloween night are not likely to change your life in any meaningful way. At best, you and your family will enjoy 24 hours of distraction. Real life is going to return on November 1. So enjoy the day for what it is. Do not obsess to the degree that you throw yourself into a panic.
Forget about Perfection
For a lot of people, panic during holiday season is the result of being obsessed with perfection. The perfectionist cannot bear even thinking that every little detail of the next holiday celebration might not be absolutely perfect. In his/her mind, it’s impossible for people to fully enjoy themselves if everything isn’t just right.
Here’s a little secret we have learned through years of providing personal concierge services: there is no such thing as perfection. It is impossible to create the perfect holiday party. It is impossible to guarantee everyone will be smiling at every waking moment. As such, there’s logical reason for pursuing perfection.
Go ahead and make your plans for holiday parties. But when the time arrives to actually have a party, just go with it. If everything doesn’t turn out the way you planned, no worries. Sometimes it is those unplanned things that make the sweetest memories.
Don’t Be a Hero
We want to close this post by encouraging you to avoid the hero complex. You don’t have to do it all. You do not have to be all things to all people to guarantee everyone else enjoys their holidays. Do what you can but let everyone else do what they can too. The best holiday celebrations are often the ones in which everyone contributes a small piece to a much larger pie.
It will not be long before Halloween is close enough for you to identify. It will soon be followed by its three companions. Don’t worry. All will be okay. The holidays are not here to invade your life and crush your spirit. They only seek to bring you a little joy in an otherwise challenging world.