How I'm (not) Preparing for the Holidays

A couple of days ago I made the decision that I am not going to put up any Christmas decorations this year, nor am I going to send out Christmas cards (handmade or not). Call me a Grinch or a Scrooge, but the thought of adding these things to my "to do" list, made me feel weary, not merry. Oh, I'm still buying books to give to all my great nieces, and I'll be making my annual "Wheel of Fortune" game to play at our family holiday gathering, but the Christmas preparations for me this year will be minimal. This decision was a great relief. It frees me up to do two things I haven't had much chance to do in the past few months: work on new writing projects, and spend time with friends that I don't see very often. That's how I want to spend the holidays this year. And next year when (if) I put up decorations and send out cards, it will be a happy choice, and not a dreaded obligation.