A belated Merry Christmas 2
I didn’t forget the holiday, just had a bit more active one than I expected. I promised a bit more on the story, so here goes:
Jenn and I had just returned from visiting my family on the 23rd when we got the message that her grandfather had been hospitalized. He’s home now. Still not 100%, but he’ll get there: he’s a stubborn one. Pap’s been a resilient one his whole life- from entering the workforce early to support his family, through years in the heat of the steel mills, to caring for his fields in retirement walking behind that huge Gravely tractor. He was determined to keep using that beast long after he should have handed over those duties to one of the younguns.
Pushing 92, he was due a little rest, I guess.
We can all use a rest on occasion.
At one time or another, we’ve probably all experienced it: strung out from work, the last thing you want is a full schedule of visiting family, friends, or the “fun is mandatory” office party. Toss in the typical Holiday preparations & gift shopping and it’s amazing any of us stay sane.
You’d just prefer some quiet time.
Alone.
You deserve it.
I know that’s how I was feeling.
What I got certainly wasn’t the “rest” I’d hoped for. It certainly wasn’t a break from stress, but it was something more valuable… a refocusing.
So many times, when I do finally get that “me time” it’s squandered. The escape never lasts. My accomplishments in that time are insignificant. That little selfish moment seems too little, over too soon, and I’m left struggling to figure out where I’ll fit in the next one. I’m left feeling like my “free time” was wasted.
This holiday, it was the family time that seems so fleeting. I wish there’d been more. It may have just been teasing my sisters and brother at my grandma’s, sitting by pap’s bedside with my wife, or driving my almost-two-year-old nephew all across the ward in an oversized wheelchair. It wasn’t much, but it was the best use of my time in ages.
For once, it didn’t feel wasted.
It’s easy to get so focused on life’s details that we lose sight of what’s important in our lives. This new year, I resolve to stay refocused. No more wasted time.