Managing Expectations

 Christmas comes with so many expectations.  Being with family.  Enjoying food prepared especially for celebrating.  Appreciating the lights and displays that spread smiles.  Watching friends and family embrace the gifts carefully selected.  Multiple lists for menus, groceries, presents, activities.  Dates carefully selected to include everyone.  And then life happens.

Illness occurs and plans have to be adjusted.  Scrambling to find new a new time that works for everyone.  Tickets are sold out and new activities need to be formulated.  Gifts that are no longer in stock.  Hoping second choices are okay.  And this is when expectations need to be readjusted.  Easier said then done.  Instead of dinner and gifts with extended family we will have dinner and games with immediate family.  Instead of an afternoon excursion tomorrow we will find a substitute activity.  I am not doing what I thought I would be doing.  But it is OKAY.  Each day will have some joy and maybe some sadness or disappointment but it is all to be cherished.

Christmas and the season will be very different next year as I have no idea where I will be.  The closing on the boat is scheduled for December 28th and the plan is to leave January 8th.  Expectations for where and when the boat sails is fluid.  As all expectations should be.  Because life happens.  Because my best life is one where I can embrace change and newness even with little to no warning. 

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