Slow Down And Taste The Cookies!
Posted: Friday, December 19, 2008
by Camille Strate
JoyZAChoice
As Christmas day approaches ever nearer, and all the people are running, running, running to catch as many moments as they can, I feel a calm wash over me. A calm that speaks of days gone by. Days when things seemed so much simpler. And it makes me wonder....were they really? Were things any different for my parents than they are for parents today? Did they get all stressed out over the holiday stuff? I don't remember that. I remember a lot of bustling about, but not stress. It was always fun. Or, at least it seemed that way to me. My mom used to begin the Christmas cookies weeks ahead of time. And then she'd try to hide them so we wouldn't eat them before it was "time". I always thought that was funny. Mostly because she never hid them well enough. We'd always find them. And, of course, we'd always get busted too. She'd open up whatever little hiding spot, see the trays half empty, and start hollerin', "WHO ATE THE COOKIES???"
But, lest I digress....(oops. Too late!)
I've been relishing this calm. Mostly because I see all the frantic folks running around and they're just not there yet. Maybe on Christmas morning? I feel for them. I wish I could go up to them and give them a big ol' hug and say, "Hey. If you slow down a bit, I'll just bet you'd enjoy yourself a lot more." I'm thinking I might get smacked in the head if I did this. So, I don't. But I think it. And I wish them peace. And joy. And all the things the season is supposed to be about. And then I go about my business.
Funny thing about slowing down is that you get so much more done. People don't get this. There's an old expression my dad used to say: "the hurrier I go the behinder I get". I always loved that expression. Wonder if anyone else ever heard that one. Wonder if it sticks in their heads like it does mine. Truth be told, I didn't get it for a long, long time. But now...now things are different. Now I see how much better my life is for the slowing down. Kinda like when you're eating your very favorite food. Savoring every single bite as if it might be your last. That's how I do things now.
The fact that I learned this the "hard" way isn't important. What's important is that I learned it. And I live it too. I live the life of someone who no longer pays attention to time. I have that luxury, as I don't punch a clock. I work for me...so I don't have to pay attention to what time it is. I work long hours at a time because I love what I do, not because someone says I have to. I sleep when I'm tired. I eat when I'm hungry. And I always make time to play. Always.
So now that I've learned this blessed lesson, I want so much to share it with folks. I want for people to enjoy this time of year as much as I am. I want them to slow down and taste the cookies (it's a little too cold to smell the roses!) I want them to live the Grace of Gratitude...for every moment they have. Most of all, I want folks to remember just how blessed they are.
I know I am.
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Top-level comments on this article: (3 total)Hello Camille, I wish I was a baker then I could stop and smell the cookies too :-) What a beautiful reminder to slow it down and enjoy the simple things. I myself must stick to Marie Calendar :-) Many Christmas blessings to you and yours now and all the new year through!Hey Sweet Teresa!
Thank you very much, darlin'est one! And a very wonderful Christmas to you too! (by the way...Marie Calendar cookies are pretty darned good...so don't you go feelin' bad about not baking your own!)Thank you and thanks for the kind words about my dear friend Marie :-) Have a wonderful weekend. We are going to be snowed in. Today we had 5 inches of snow. I am hoping and praying my husband makes it home for Christmas. If not, at least he will be with his mom down in sunny So. Cal.
Hi Camille.My ease at this time of years comes of the family deciding, many years ago, to forgo the exchanging of presents. It's a real blessing. I can avoid the busy shopping days. I can bake cookies when I feel like it, not because it's expected. I too send silent well wishes to those I see whose eyes are glazed over and seem to have no idea what they are doing.Even so, memories come flooding this time of year for me and not all of them are good. Some are filled with regrets. Your article is a reminder for me to take what is good and make the most of it. Thanks.Respectfully,Dianne
Good article on a very positive approach many of us can implement.
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