As I sit here watching my students take their final, I am reminded of what it is like to be a child waiting for the Christmas break. It isn’t that I am not ready also, but rather I look at the holidays with a far different perspective than they do. As an adult I feel the pressure of all of the commercialism that comes along with the season.

It isn’t exactly our fault that this how the holiday season feels for adults. Media pushes for all of us to spend money and lots of it. I try very hard to pick up gifts all throughout the year. As much as I try, it still sneaks up on me. I love giving gifts. It isn’t my love language, but I do enjoy it. I like to see people happy.

I haven’t said it yet, but Christmas is my favorite time of the year. I love the lights, the smell of pine and Christmas cookies, the music….everything! I was the person who decorated right after the Macy’s Parade. Sadly, I have yet to decorate this year. It isn’t that I don’t want to, but I have just been very meh this year. Along with teaching, I have been working on my Masters degree. I am thrilled to be done and have maintained a really good grade point average. So the fact that I have been stressed is an understatement. That goal accomplished gets me a little closer to reclaiming my free time. I am trying to get into the holiday season. I want to feel festive, alas I haven’t quite made it.

Today is an evening for baking. This usually puts me into a good mood. I am hoping that it will brighten my spirits. I am definitely hoping that this will be the start to my Christmas cheer. I have been feeling a bit like Ebeneezer Scrooge. Bah humbug has never been my demeanor, but that is exactly how I have felt. It is time to lock in, as my students say, and be more like Bob Cratchit. If you are not familiar with either of these characters, can I suggest that you either read the book or watch the 1951 version of Charles Dickens’ Christmas classic, A Christmas Carol/”Scrooge.” It is the best version of this story, in my humble opinion.

Well, I am done giving finals for today. I have three classes tomorrow. Watching testers is not the most exciting thing in the world, but it does give me the chance to write. Creeping closer to break has me perked up. I love what I do; I really do even though the forementioned fact above is completely true. Two things can be true at the same time. I will have a week to get my Bob Cratchit spirit to appear.

Embracing the holidays looks different for each person. There are other religious celebrations happening during this season. I can’t tell you how to feel about celebrating, but I can encourage you to enjoy family and friends no matter your beliefs. Call a friend who is far away. If you are lucky enough to have your parents and grandparents be sure to see them if at all possible. Once they are gone you will miss them. Families are complicated. If you have been estranged from family, consider mending the relationships. You do not want to regret the choices made.

So, whether you have a short break or a long break for the holidays take some time to be kind to yourself as well as others. Have a slug day where you don’t get out of your pjs. Watch your favorite movies or television shows. Eat your favorite foods. Take a long hot shower or bath. These are just a few ways to treat yourself with kindness. Since we are entering into the final few weeks of 2025, it is the time of the year where we look back on how we spent our time. We think about goals that we would like to accomplish. So as this year draws to a close, embrace the holidays and plan for the future.

My final thoughts on this subject is simply this: If the world seems impossible to navigate just keep moving forward. Enjoy the season in your own way. Never forget that the world is full of promise no matter how difficult life can get. I wish everyone a wonderful holiday season and I look forward to sharing my thoughts with you in the upcoming year. As Dr. Suess wrote “Christmas Day is in our grasp, so long as we have hands to clasp. Christmas Day will always be just as long as we have we. Welcome Christmas while we stand, heart to heart, and hand in hand.”(Geisel, T)

Until next time,

Cat