Another name for Christmas is Monday

If you live in the United States like I do, believing that the entire world must revolve around Christmas is tempting. I have to confess I do succumb to it. “Everything” this week must be about presents and food and family preparation, and then the day has a different schedule than every other day. We always start Christmas day with bacon and opening stockings. Meditation, prayer, smoothies, and stretching are thrown out the window.

Conventional wisdom has often been shared with me:  “One day off from your routine won’t hurt.” “Everybody needs a break sometimes.”  Well, yes, I DO need a break from work and productivity. I must remember that getting things done isn’t the most important thing in life. On my deathbed, chances are I’m not going to even glance at my to-do list. And while most people can and do make tons of holiday food exceptions, that never works for me.  Some foods are poison to me, and some are medicine. Prayer and meditation time every morning is equally beneficial for me. I don’t stop taking any prescribed meds because it’s the holidays, so I don’t stop eating the foods that heal me and avoiding the foods that harm me.

Except I’m totally lying because yesterday, when my extended family gathered for our annual “fondue fest” and gift exchange, I carefully mixed white beans with many other ingredients to create  “vegan fondue” for myself (because most cheeses are poison for me) and then proceeded to eat quite a bit of conventional swiss cheese fondue (which is, of course, vastly superior).

So, as the kids say, that happened.  And today, I remind all of you of what works for me on the off chance that it might help you too.