I Hope Your Holidays Don't Go As Planned

The Peek Perspective on Unexpected Joy

It’s the last day of November.

Are you feeling grateful after a month of focusing on thankfulness? Or overwhelmed by expectations of the days to come? Maybe both?!

It's easy to be thankful when everything seems to be going smoothly and exactly as you have planned, when life is going your way.  But what about the unexpected, the times when nothing goes as planned?

I’m naturally a planner – someone who likes to feel a sense of control about the days ahead. But I am constantly reminded that it’s the unexpected moments that can bring the most joy… the ones I didn’t plan on.

In the week leading up to Thanksgiving, our family was planning to host a big event at our home to celebrate our middle daughter’s birthday. But as the week unfolded, illness struck our household and suddenly those carefully made, highly anticipated plans came to a halt. There was much disappointment initially. Then, Saturday morning arrived, and it was just exactly what we didn’t know we needed. Our little family gathered together in our home, fire burning in the fireplace, girls in PJs gathered around a new Lego project. Windows open to the fall air. Space for healing and rest on a rare, slow Saturday morning.

Unexpected joy.

By the time Thanksgiving arrived, we had recovered and were able to host our extended family for a feast. Still not having full energy recovery, we kept it simple. Food…including the turkey I outsourced from a local meat smoker… highly recommend! Family…who rolled up their sleeves and graciously found their way around our new kitchen like they own it. And a spontaneous outdoor game of Capture the Flag for the cousins (which lasted for hours and was later said to be my girls’ favorite part of the entire day!) It was nothing fancy, and my decorations were not social media “worthy”. But the joy of lingering at the table long after the meal had ended, enjoying my family… the peacefulness of sitting outside around our fire pit with my mom, watching all the kids completely invested in their Capture the Flag game (thanks, sister, for being the referee ; )… the afternoon nap I stole when the house was again quiet. These are the places I found deep and unexpected joy.

On Black Friday, instead of getting caught up in the hustle of shopping, we cheered on our favorite football team and then made our annual trek to the local tree farm to select our holiday tree. This year, we wrangled home a 12 foot Fraser Fir beauty, and it might be my family’s favorite gift we will purchase all season long. We spent 2 days decorating it, slowly but surely, enjoying the process. This time, I didn’t micromanage every ornament placement and actually allowed the girls to decorate (mostly) where they would like. It isn’t perfect, but it’s beautiful. Now, it is the center of our home and the place that beckons us to sit for a moment, to be still in admiration and wonder, in the midst of a busy season.

Here is your reminder and permission to S L O W down and make space to find unexpected joy this season. It’s hard to be grateful when we are filled with anxiety about squeezing in all the events, activities, and “must do” rituals of this season. When every moment is planned, every “to-do” list is full, and there is no margin for allowing our days to unfold, it’s difficult to embrace the unexpected changes in our routine. We risk missing out on the quiet joys of the unplanned moments, as we are rushing off to the next event on our calendar.

Sometimes, a seemingly inconvenient change in plans or circumstances can lead to unexpected joy. Whether it’s illness that sweeps through your house right before a big event or simply the stress of all.the.things holiday related, may we take a moment to pause. To be filled with curiosity and wonder. To see the unmapped territory as a gift. To be relentless in our pursuit of joy and open to the places where we might unexpectedly find it.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year…if you allow it to be.

May your expectations not be met at every turn. May things not go exactly as you plan for the season ahead… and may you be filled with unexpected joy.

Leigh

Our dog Poppy, embracing the unexpected joys of being allowed to snuggle on Mom’s favorite cozy blanket and wondering why her living room sprouted an enormous tree… (Please also note the one single gift I’ve managed to wrap and the candlesticks still without candles. Slow and steady, my friends…)