2014. Trinidad. It's December 25th, 3:15am. A quiet house sits nestled between the mountains. The sun is yet to rise over Petit Valley to officially welcome the Christmas morning, yet a mother and daughter are hard at work chopping, seasoning, boiling, slicing. A son sits at the table wrapping presents diligently. In a few hours there will be gifts waiting beneath the tree, and food waiting on a table set for 8. But meanwhile, preparation must be done to make it happen. Santa has already made his appearance in previous years, and it's time for reality to take over. It's Christmas, but as their eyes droop and movements slow down, it's hard for them to feel the season's festivity. December 25th? It's just Christmas coming around again. And although everything around them screams Christmas - the lights, the tree, the beautiful Mass, the crowded malls and humble nativity scenes - it doesn't sink in. Christmas no longer means just gifts, but brings equal parts celebration, work and preparation. It's all in the art of growing up.
So here we are. Christmas Day has almost ended (it's 11:45pm as I write this) and although we've gone through the usual Christmas traditions, it feels so different. My enthusiasm is a muted version of what it used to be years ago, when I could go to sleep early on Christmas Eve and rise early Christmas morning to the smell of freshly-wrapped gifts. Instead, I went to sleep in the wee hours of Christmas morning with the smell of seasoning on my fingers, only to wake up a few hours later to sift through the gifts under the tree.
I suppose growing up has a lot to do with the shift in attitude. We get older and we realise things. We realise we don't need so many material things. We don't believe that new gadgets or gifts will actually make us happy. We know the truth about Santa and the reindeer (probably the hardest truth to face). We're old enough to help with the food-prep and gift-wrapping. Slowly but surely, we're being exposed to the inner-workings of Christmas Day - the background work that goes on to create a magical day for all. They say "Christmas is for children," and the year you find yourself agreeing with this is the year you can agree that you've officially grown up - you're no longer a child and Christmas is no longer for you.
Luckily, it's never been just about the gifts. The Birth of our Lord is a time to prepare ourselves, our homes and our souls and share the season with family and loved ones. So this is what we do. But no matter how family-oriented our Christmas Day gets, there is a simple pleasure to be had in opening gifts. Especially gifts with a purpose.
This brings me to the 2015 daily planner I received this year from my parents. Not only is it the most beautiful thing I've ever seen - dual-toned, turquoise and purple, perfect size, accompanying scripture verses and the works - but it's the most perfect gift I could ask for. What's the big whoop about a daily planner? you might ask. For me, planners facilitate new beginnings and better habits, just as a new year does. It's the ideal gift, and here's why:
I suppose growing up has a lot to do with the shift in attitude. We get older and we realise things. We realise we don't need so many material things. We don't believe that new gadgets or gifts will actually make us happy. We know the truth about Santa and the reindeer (probably the hardest truth to face). We're old enough to help with the food-prep and gift-wrapping. Slowly but surely, we're being exposed to the inner-workings of Christmas Day - the background work that goes on to create a magical day for all. They say "Christmas is for children," and the year you find yourself agreeing with this is the year you can agree that you've officially grown up - you're no longer a child and Christmas is no longer for you.
Luckily, it's never been just about the gifts. The Birth of our Lord is a time to prepare ourselves, our homes and our souls and share the season with family and loved ones. So this is what we do. But no matter how family-oriented our Christmas Day gets, there is a simple pleasure to be had in opening gifts. Especially gifts with a purpose.
This brings me to the 2015 daily planner I received this year from my parents. Not only is it the most beautiful thing I've ever seen - dual-toned, turquoise and purple, perfect size, accompanying scripture verses and the works - but it's the most perfect gift I could ask for. What's the big whoop about a daily planner? you might ask. For me, planners facilitate new beginnings and better habits, just as a new year does. It's the ideal gift, and here's why:
- Whether you're big on New Year's Resolutions or not, a planner performs the duty for which it was created: to help us plan our lives and actions. So whether you're setting goals for the new year or keeping up with your busy schedule, a planner let's you concretise those plans, ultimately leading to success.
- If you're trying to get organised, a planner is the thing you need to help you get on track. If you're already super organised and prepared, a planner helps you to stay on track. It doesn't matter what end of the spectrum you're at when it comes to organisation, because planners are here to help you along.
- For a person who loves to read and write, a planner presents itself as the perfect "everyday" book. Stuck at the office when inspiration hits? Just parked the car and remembered a great quote or story prompt? Having a planner means I can just pull it out anytime, anywhere and spew my thoughts in the 'Notes' section as I please.
- I'm growing up, you're growing up, we're all growing up. Cheers to leaving the habits of the past behind and welcoming new responsibilities as the new year rolls around. And cheers to daily planners for helping us master the art of growing up. Whether you're setting hair appointments or outlining your short and long-term goals, a planner is the one weapon every young adult needs to conquer adulthood.
Christmas is now over but guess what? The celebration of Jesus' birth does not ever have to end. As we grow up, every day is an opportunity to honour the Nativity and live out a Christ-centred life. And as we journey into adulthood with our trusty daily planners at our side, may we always remember the beauty of this season, knowing that God sent his son to save us, and that that in itself is a reason to be happy.
