This morning, about 5:30AM, my daughter was wide awake. I’m not complaining, I’m used to this. Lennon has never been an exceptional sleeper. She stays up late, wakes at least once per night, and still gets up early every day. I have a running theory that she’s stashed away her very own Keurig in a dollhouse somewhere.
But here’s the thing, I’m really glad she was up so early this morning. 5AM really isn’t all that bad. Because now, at 9AM, we’ve already finished two-ish Christmas movies.
Sure, I should be spending those early hours exercising, or journaling, or studying, or something. But I just wasn’t here for that this morning. No, this morning I was knee deep in The Muppets Christmas Carol and Jingle Jangle (new movie on Netflix, very cute).
I’m usually, almost curmudgeonly so, committed to ensuring a proper celebration of Thanksgiving before getting into the Christmas mode. But this year, we’re taking a pass. Trust me, Thanksgiving will still get its due. I happen to believe Thanksgiving is more enjoyable than Christmas. Probably because I’m such an abysmal gift giver. A joke or prank gift? I’m in. Something meaningful? Struggle bus.
Thanksgiving doesn’t carry with it all that added baggage of gift giving or receiving.(Seriously, though, can we talk about how stressful it is to react to gifts?) Instead, Thanksgiving offers us a moment of pause to share our blessings with friends and family. I know I wasn’t always like this, but as I’ve gotten older, I’ve started to realize more and more the importance of those moments. And for me, a day focused on gratitude (and sweet potato casserole) is just about what we need at this point in 2020.
So, why the jump to Christmas this morning? Well, like all the best parts of my daily life, it was because of my daughter.
When Lennon woke up, I could tell immediately, that she wanted to watch something on my iPad. And, as much as I try to limit screen time, we all know that’s a joke. At 5:30, when you haven’t slept well in 2.5 years, you just mindlessly open up that Disney+ account and let them go.
So what did she pick? Wouldn’t you know it – she went for one of my all time favorites, and here I was, enjoying Gonzo and Rizzo recount the story of Ebenezer Scrooge. I’ve always been a Muppets fan, but now my daughter seems to be joining the team. And you know what? I was pretty thankful in that moment. Thankful that, even though she’s still a bit young to get the jokes, she’s responding to the delivery. She’s enjoying the absurd, and smiling ear to ear.
I’ve seen a lot of folks posting about “skipping” or “going straight to” Christmas on social media. I get it. That time of year is special for countless reasons, and after the past 8 months, don’t we all want to feel a bit of that joy? Give yourself the grace to experience the holiday season a bit early this year. Go ahead!
But as you’re looking ahead, I hope you’ll find a way to give thanks ahead of those early celebrations.
Whether by design or not, I think it’s important that thanksgiving comes after election day and before Christmas in our national calendar. I believe it gives us a point of calm in the midst of significant stressors, and helps us rest constructively. This morning, I had a little bit of a thanksgiving as I laid there next to Lennon, her tiny hand gripping my thumb as she giggled at Fozzie Bear.
I was able to reflect on how much 2020 has slowed us all down, and given us more opportunities for lazy Saturday mornings at home. I was able to take a moment to be grateful for the uniqueness of my daughter. As that moment stretched into a second movie, I realized we were going to be just fine jumping into the Christmas spirit a bit early this year because the gratitude of thanksgiving can be with us a bit early too. We can take that pause, that rest right now and enjoy a simple moment.
I know, especially as we look to the prospect of another round of shutdowns, that we are all feeling a bit more on edge. It’s showing in our behavior at the stores again. It breaks through in our interactions with co-workers, friends and family alike.
This year, being home for Christmas is going to take on a very different meaning. By all means, give yourself the space to move into the lightheartedness that comes with the holidays. But, if I can offer any advice, start with a moment of thanksgiving – even if that moment is cloaked in the veil of watching a Christmas movie a month early – you need it. I know I did.
Part of the Possible 