slowing down and savoring Christmas: reclaiming the magic in a hurried world

A retrospect in pros

It seems this year, somehow more than most, we feel it don't we? It's an invasive, persistent, low-humming vibration that suggests the world is moving just a little too fast, just a little to intense. Its a feeling, like a sensation of standing on a platform as a high-speed train roars past, except, in this case that train is our daily lives, and the platform is getting smaller, and smaller every year. In this hyper-connected, hyper-efficient era, the perceived speed of life is a phenomenon that touches every corner of our experience, making us feel perpetually behind, like we've already missed the train. And when the calendar flips to December, this feeling doesn't just intensify; it seems to become a full-blown, raging torrent of life, sweeping us uncontrollably toward Christmas at a dizzying pace.

The Holiday Rush: A Tyranny of "Must-Dos"

Stanza the first

The Christmas season we are told, is meant to be a time of joy, reflection, and quiet wonder, often transforms into an Olympic level sprint of "must-dos." We are bombarded with images of perfectly decorated homes, tables laden with gourmet feasts, and families exchanging expensive, thoughtfully curated gifts.

Anymore there seems to be a societal “script” for a "perfect" holiday, one that is often magnified through the rose colored lens of social media, and seems to create a suffocating pressure. We feel the stress of the holidays not just in our schedules, but deep in our chests. We worry about:

    The Gift-Giving Standard: Is my present thoughtful enough? Is it the 'right' thing?

    The Home Presentation: Is my house decorated to the standard of that Instagram Influencer?

    The Social Calendar: Did I attend enough parties? Did I host a memorable event?

This fear of "doing it wrong," or of failing to keep up with the world's frantic pace and impossibly high standards, is perhaps the single greatest thief of our Christmas joy. It’s the fear that if we slow down, even for a fleeting moment, we will be judged as somehow less-than, less successful, or less committed to the "spirit" of the season. Often we can confuse activity with meaning, and exhaustion with worthiness.

Reclaiming the Intentional Christmas

Stanza the second

But collectively, we can decide to step off that high-speed train? What if, just for once, we made a conscious, deliberate choice to redefine this season, and what it means to us, not by how much we do, but, however by how much we care and how deeply we connect?

It is my thought that the truest magic of Christmas is not found in a flawlessly wrapped present or the perfectly staged photo op; it is, in fact, found in the moments we intentionally create and cherish. I feel it's time to shift our focus from frantic completion to a more mindful presence.

Our holidays can be a powerful, annual anchor that gives us permission, and perhaps an obligation, to prioritize the people who matter most in our lives. Don't let the pressure of planning a huge, formal event overshadow the simple necessity of spending genuine time together.

    Make Time to Look at the Lights: Instead of just driving past decorations on your way to another errand, make an evening of it. Bundle up, grab a thermos of hot cocoa, and take a slow, deliberate walk. Look at the neighborhood lights lights. Take the time to notice the effort, the creativity, and the simple beauty. Share the moment with a loved one, and not just your camera lens. Drop a note in the mailbox, and let the homeowner know their effort wasn't in vain.

    Reconnect with Lost Threads: The end of the year is a perfect time to gently tug on the threads of relationships that may have frayed under the pressure of distance or busy lives. Pick up the phone, not to text, but to call, a friend or family member you’ve created distance with. A simple message like, "I was looking at the Christmas lights and it made me think of you. Hope you are well," can be a bridge back to a cherished connection.

Slowing down isn't just about internal peace; it’s about having the space to truly see the people around us, especially those who are struggling to keep the hurried world moving.

    Smile at a Stranger: It sounds small, but a genuine, unhurried smile is a revolutionary act of connection in a world that often demands we keep our eyes fixed only on our phones or the task ahead.

    Thank a Retail Worker: These are the Holidays unsung heroes, caught in the gears of the ever moving holiday machine. Stop, make eye contact, and offer a heartfelt thank you. Be specific: "I appreciate you helping me find this, and I hope you get a little break soon. Thank you for working so hard." Your vocal appreciation, intentional pause and kindness are more valuable than you know.

Disconnect to Reconnect: The Power of the Pause

Stanza the Third

What seems to me to be the single greatest accelerate of our feeling of being rushed is our constant connection to the collective digital world. The internet provides an endless reel of comparisons and the non-stop demands of our attention. To slow down and truly savor Christmas, we must commit to disconnection.

    Set Down the Phones: Put them in a basket by the door, and leave them there. When you are with people, be with them. Don't let the invasive chime of a notification pull you out of a genuine moment of laughter or conversation.

    Engage in Intentional Acts: Nothing forces slowness and intention quite like a hands-on task that serves someone else. Instead of ordering a gift online, take a Saturday to bake a batch of cookies. Then, here is the crucial step: Go to a friend’s house to deliver them. Not a quick porch drop-off, but an actual visit. “I just wanted to bring you these and say hi.” This simple, analog action slows time, creates connection, and forces a brief, personal exchange that an email or text can never replace.

    The Coffee Date Commitment: Lets all make a plan to take a friend to have a cup of coffee. The beauty of a holiday coffee date is that it is a protected space of slowness. Sit, talk, listen. Without a frantic itinerary, just the warmth of the mug and the focus on the person across from you. Take this chance to reconnect.

The Commitment to Slowness: A Year-Round Practice

Stanza the Fourth

Ultimately, the need we are exploring is the need to be slow and intentional in our words and actions. This isn't just a holiday survival guide; it's a blueprint for a more meaningful life.

Intentionality means:

    Slowing your speech to ensure your words are kind, true, and purposeful.

    Slowing your actions to approach tasks, from folding laundry to writing an email, with mindfulness rather than rush.

    Creating 'buffer time' between appointments, giving your soul space to breathe instead of constantly racing from one thing to the next.

This Christmas, I am making a personal commitment to put this practice into action. I commit to choosing a few, well-done things over a dozen frantic ones. I commit to prioritizing presence over perfection. And I commit to carrying this essential truth, that meaning is found in the pause, not only through the holiday season but as a fundamental, year-round principle.

The world will continue to spin at what feels like warp speed. But we can choose the pace of our own hearts. Let's reclaim the quiet magic of Christmas by being deliberately, beautifully slow. And in that slowness, let us find the peace that the season truly promises.

What is one small, intentional act of slowness you plan to commit to this holiday season?

Proverbs 16:9: "In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps".



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