Gentle Reads on an Unhurried Life (at the Holidays)

I entertain lofty ideas about an unhurried life year-round. But for some illogical reason, especially at the holidays.

If you’ve ever found yourself caught in the tension between longing for a quiet life, & trying to survive the hustle of days that your life actually is–this post is for you.

Thoughts on An Unhurried Life – at the Holidays

This post is actually a compilation of honest thoughts on an unhurried life, especially at the holidays… written by Yours Truly at various points along my journey as a mother.

Some words were written as recently as last week.

Others, when all five of my children were still scrunched around my dining room, morning, noon, & night.

And after more than two decades of (rather noisy) life as a mom, I’ve discovered this one Truth:

The unhurried life is a mindset, not a result of a well-oiled method or carefully crafted schedule.

With that in mind, enjoy today’s gentle reading, Friend.

With love & gratitude,

Kristy

I quickly recognized that Advent, like every other good and beautiful thing, has the potential to morph into an altogether less than beautiful thing. 

That is, a duty. 

A “hurry-up-and-get-it-right” kind of duty. (The very worst kind.)

READ MORE: “How to Create Unhurried Moments at Advent,” guest post at Kindred Grace

Once upon a Christmas, I became a mother.  

My baby girl wasn’t due to arrive until January, but she was in quite a hurry to get here. (Come to think of it, she’s still in a hurry.)

And I was in a hurry too.  

READ MORE: “The Ugly Blue Ornament,” an Inspirational Christmas Short Story

“I get one day off, and that just makes the next day twice as busy,” she stated matter-of-factly.  ‘December twenty-sixth, it’s right back to work-as-usual.”

She sighed. 

“The older I get, the more I lose the Christmas spirit, you know?”  

READ MORE: “From Overwhelm to Wonder,” Keeping Worship at the Heart of Christmas

We do have a lot more time to enjoy this season when we’re not so busy keeping up with our homeschool schedule, and in that sense, it is a leisurely break. 

If we want to spend an afternoon baking cookies, we do.

If we need to spend a morning shopping for gifts or wrapping presents or simply decorating our house for Christmas, we do.

READ MORE: “Why We Don’t Homeschol Through the Holidays,” guest post at Hip Homeschool Moms