“Just as a puppy can be more of a challenge than a gift, so too can the holidays.” ~John Clayton

The holidays can be a bit of a paradox: happiness all wrapped up in frustration.

“Off” tied tight with “on”.

Down time smothered with busy-ness.

Desires for closeness suffocated by expectations.

As the world winds down professional commitments to make time for personal pleasures, please remember to be gentle with yourself—and others—and to hold your hopes, and those of others, lightly.

Disappointments dissipate in direct proportion to open-armed acceptance.

Step lightly around the landmines of hope you hold for other’s behaviours.

Perhaps, rather than “trying” to create a memorable experience, we could all just “allow” the holiday to create a great memory, all on its own, without expectations undermining outcomes.

And with that, I wish you the happiest of holidays: void of hope, yet filled with joy.

As I said, it’s a paradox.

But then, so is life.

Ho-ho-ho!