A December List

“Nothing ever seems too bad, too hard, or too sad when you’ve got a Christmas tree in the living room.” – Nora Roberts

Just as I love the month of October, so too do I love December. Winter might be my favorite season…or is it fall? I don’t know, I like them both too much to decide. While some despise the cold, snowy weather, I welcome it. I also celebrate Christmas and so, for me, December is a month of festivity. There is a certain lightness of spirit that this time of year brings – just as the quote above insinuates. I look forward to it the other eleven months of the year!

As someone who loves the month, I almost always feel like December’s 31 days pass far too quickly. There are so many traditions that I try to withhold, as well as new ideas for celebrations that arise. I usually write a list of these out (I am a BIG list girl), creating a December “Bucket List” of sorts. Yet, what starts out as a fun way to ensure that all of my season favorites occur, can quickly become a stress inducing task driver. As such, keeping to my intentions of simplicity, clarity and silence (or atleast quiet), my aim is to have this year’s December Bucket List be small and focused. Less is more, yeah?

If you Google “December Bucket List” you will see thousands of ideas and templates. Writing a bucket list for this month is certainly not a hot take. I like to get my ideas down on paper, into my physical planner, simply as a means of ensuring that I set aside time for the Winter activities that I find to be extra special. I don’t want the month to end and to find myself wishing that I had enjoyed the season more. 

The activities below are my winter “fun” priorities this season. When I engage in these activities, I plan to immerse myself in them as much as possible. I want to romanticize the experience. This year my bucket list is only five items, and I hope that by maintaining such simplicity, I am able to end the month feeling fulfilled and not stressed.

❆ Get Out in the Snow

I think snow is incredibly beautiful. One of my favorite places to be is amongst snow covered pines, strapped into my skate skis, on an empty (but groomed) trail. This is why I will be working from Oregon for three weeks between December and January. Nothing beats a before sunrise ski! 

Living in Southern California, snow isn’t exactly within “close” proximity. It also isn’t terribly far though. We have Big Bear and Idyllwild roughly one hour away. While the skiing isn’t amazing, I am always happy to just tromp through the snow and feel some cold air on my cheeks. And, knowing how much I love snow, and skiing, Daniel’s gift to me this holiday season is a weekend in Mammoth. 

I have built snow into my month. 

🌲Looking at Christmas Lights

There is something so cozy about seeing the soft glow of Christmas lights on a tree, or draped across the roof line of a house. Every year my brother and I drive to a resort near my parents home, where the golf course has been bedazzled with a holiday light show. When I was in college, I used to go on Christmas Light Runs with some of my cross country teammates. This year? Well, my plan is to drag Daniel out on a Christmas Light Run (or walk) with me. 

🍪Bake Cookies

I love baking Christmas cookies. And yet, so often, I wait until the very last minute to do so, or try to squeeze this activity in amongst a million other things, and then the fun is most certainly gone. So this year I wrote “bake cookies” into my planner so as to ensure I create the time for this activity that I so enjoy. When I intentionally set aside such time, I allow myself to truly become immersed in the baking. This looks like donning an apron, lighting a candle and playing some Christmas music in the background while I bake. 

🕯Ambiance

So much of what I enjoy about Christmas is the ambiance it provides. Somehow work is made that much better just by turning on an instrumental Christmas music playlist. Holiday scented candles – pine, hot cocoa, and gingerbread – glimmer all around our home. I have decorated our space with stockings over the fireplace and two mini trees on the mantle. These little things, well they just make me happy. 

❤ Time with Loved Ones

And the most important item on my list…prioritizing time with loved ones. As I wrote in last week’s blog post, my phone is taking a back seat this month. Instead, uninterrupted face time is what I seek. This month, work is a little lighter and I have the gift of quite a bit of time off for the holidays. Instead of DOING more, I am going to spend more time really BEING with the people I love. 

When December ends, I will feel sad. I always do. There is the high of the holidays and then the inevitable low to follow. Still, I can cherish the December moments I have and end the month confident that I savored it to the best of my abilities. Having a small, focused bucket list will help me to do just that. 

And you, what is on your December Bucket List? Perhaps you don’t have one and this inspired you to begin creating. Perhaps not; that is fine too. Either way, my wish for you is that you are able to find some peace and joy in this final month of 2022. 
“Winter, a lintering season, is a time to gather golden moments, embark upon a sentimental journey and enjoy every idle hour.” John Boswell