Fionnuala thoughtfully reminded me this evening that it was a mere 100 days until Christmas. I think it was her not so subtle way of warning me it was now open season as far as festive preparations went. I fully expect to return home later this week to find a 12 foot inflatable Santa staring at me from across the front garden. Daring me to suggest it might be a teensy weensy bit early for this sort of thing.
I have so much to look forward to….
Firstly there’s the unmitigated joy of the annual visit to the attic in order to retrieve the Christmas decorations. Every year, I vow to put them away in a tidy, systematic order so that when it comes to retrieving them the following year I am not required to undergo a three day voyage into the darkest corners of the roof space. And every year I don’t and end up undergoing a three day voyage into blah blah blah.
Then there’s the Christmas movie channel. Hundreds upon hundreds of made for television ‘classics’ which all essentially have the same plot. A hard nosed, ambitious business woman returns to her home town for some tenuous reason only to have her heart melted by her high school love. She falls in love all over again and the true meaning of Christmas triumphs over corporate greed. The end.
I begin hating these movies but then end up transfixed, even though I know how it will end. They always look like they were filmed in August and feature actors who once appeared in three episodes of that Netflix show you binge watched the previous March. You know….thingy. Meaghan Markle even popped up in one last year. Before Suits and hooking up with Prince Harry.
Yes, the countdown is well and truly on at chez Black. Before too long, we will be inundated with Advent calendars, turkey sandwiches and songs about Italian donkeys. Hannah also informed us that it is 210 days until she sees Shaun Mendes in concert in Dublin. She even has a countdown clock on her phone. I think she’s a little bit excited and could possibly self combust when the day of the show finally arrives.
We love having dates and events to look forward to; how many of us live for the weekend; our precious summer holidays or countless other islands of excitement in our otherwise drab existences. It can be a sporting event, a movie release or yearning to see a loved one after a too long absence. We monitor the days, weeks and months. We are literally wishing our lives away.
We don’t want the here and now, we are always looking forward and ahead. We can’t wait and our impatience cannot be contained. I want it all and I want it now. We are spoilt children continually throwing tantrums in order to get our own way. Becoming blinded to the beauty surrounding us, such is the clamour to escape it and stare wistfully over the horizon towards the next big thing.
It is positive and healthy to have targets, goals, events to look forward to. But not to the extent that we devalue and gloss over 364 days of the year, for the sake of a 24 hour window of mince pies and jolly, bearded old men in red suits. Every day is precious and we should strive to squeeze every last drop of life out of it. We take our lives for granted at times. We need to cherish each day. For it could be our last.
Are you wishing your life away?
Are you counting the days to Christmas? Or another big event?
How focused are you on today?
Black Thoughts 
Well, THAT took a wee turn at the end. 0 days till Grinching, eh? 😀
I wish my life away, but then tell myself I cannot have any wishes. Bit of a conundrum, really.
You didn’t say what you might be wishing your life away to, by the way. Do YOU cherish each day?
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I try to but it’s easy to wish the days away. I’m as guilty of it as the next person 😊
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So what is your ‘next big thing?’
I am curious lately if people have actual milestones, and if they feel lost upon reaching them.
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In the United States, we call it “living for the weekend,” and I am certainly guilty. However, I do really love Christmas. Like, really, really love. So I can see how she feels about it.
I’m trying to learn to see the good in every season, because we have to live through an awful lot of boring ones. When you really look close, the days aren’t so dull, are they?
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No, not at all. Christmas is a big event in our house and I enjoy the build up as much anyone. I was just using it as an example. You seem to have a good attitude. There is magic in the mundane, right?
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Quite true, but I can be blind to the magic as easily as anyone. God is working on me about that.
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I just want the hot humid days to end already. I would love a bit of snow!
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We don’t have that problem in Northern Ireland 😂
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Oy. I’m in a state of I don’t want to make long term plans. Just day by day. If I had kids at home Christmas might be different but I minimize the decorating.
I enjoy reading your daily posts.
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Thank you very much. I understand your position.
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I love the idea of Christmas, but the last few years they’ve been a bit of non-event for me, and I’ve been considering not bothering celebrating it this year.
100 days of Christmas for me means I’ve got around 100 days to write 13 chapters of my Sky-pirates of Durn story as I wish to wrap it up by the end of the year. This is a deadline I recently imposed on myself. I want to begin a new story at the beginning of next year.
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I meant 100 days till Christmas, not “of”. That would be a bit much.
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I hope you make your target and thanks for the recent feedback. I’m a bit behind this week but intent to go through it all soon. Thank you again for the time you are putting into this.
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Oh, I know what you mean about those movies. Can’t stand em! I love Christmas though. I’m already starting to think about it.
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Ha Ha! You sound like my wife lol. Thank you.
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I’m living for your synopsis of ALL Christmas movie plots – you’re so right!
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Most definitely 😂
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I agree – I don’t like the movies either. I like something that’s not predictable! Love your blog. ❤️ Thank you for sharing your story.
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You’re welcome. Thank you very much 😊
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Are you talking about the Hallmark channel? Those movies are pretty awful 😂
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Yup 🤣
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My mom loves those movies! XD she got so excited when they did a Christmas in July.
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Lol… My grandma likes them too 😂
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Sounds like Fionnuala 😂
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Living in the present is not easy, that being said, I am far happier when I do. Great post!
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Thank you Carol 🙂
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I’m counting the days until we move to a new state. 13 more. Excited and a little nervous too. New house, new community, new state, new church.
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It certainly sounds exciting. I hope the move and resettlement is a success 😊
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Ha! I made that comment about listening to Christmas music before I saw this post. Let the countdown begin…But I appreciate the reminder not to over-inflate the importance of one day. We should be living year round with the spirit of Christmas in any case!
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Great minds think alike Mrs J 😂
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I love the spirit of Christmas. I’ll be diving more into it soon. 🙂
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You would love our house then 😊
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Woooo
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This is a great reminder that many of us need to see from time to time. I think it’s probably human nature to be looking forward to the next big thing – whatever that might be. I know I need to remember to slow down, enjoy the day, and try to do today what I easily tell myself “I can do that tomorrow.”
I did not, however, need to know it’s only 100 days to Christmas. ACK!!!! lol 😉
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Thank you. It’s a lot less now. 74? 75?
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The farm down the street from us that sells blueberries in the summer and Christmas trees already has their sigh out to tag a tree … a bit early I must admit ,this is the earliest I’ve seen their sign up . Well I guess it begins 🙂
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Yes, it seems to get earlier every year. Oh well.
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