Haiku Friday: One Less Task

Haiku Friday
Remember last week?
My efforts to find a good
photo were in vain

For to send out a
Christmas card, one must order
the cards in time. Duh.

I’m not that upset
One thing off my to-do list
is less stress for me

You know, I’ve had plenty on my plate lately. So I’m making the decision to not fight with a rush order of Christmas cards this year, paying extra for shipping and struggling to mail them in time. If people want to see pictures of my kids, they can come visit the blog. Or hey – here’s a concept – stop by and see them live! Besides, I never do those long we never see you so here’s what my family has done in the past year letters, so people aren’t missing out on much.

It’s freeing to realize I don’t have to address 30 envelopes this year. (I’ve got bad handwriting anyway.) But now that load of holiday pressure on my shoulders has lightened enough that I won’t collapse under it. And if anyone gets upset, I’ll tell them I’m being environmentally conscious this year. Save a tree.

Truthfully, I’ve cut back on a lot of holiday decorating and preparation in an effort to save my sanity. We’re using paper plates and cups for Christmas dinner to cut down on washing dishes. Aaron and I aren’t participating in the adult Hanukkah gift exchange this year. And gift wrapping will involve a lot of gift bags and tissue paper, I think.

I still battle depression, and the Ghost of Holiday Stress that haunts many of us this time of year jabs at my dark mood with its glittery, red and white striped bah humbug stick. I don’t need that.

My haiku today is also part of PBN’s blog blast, partnering with FamilyAware.org, a non-profit organization offering free support and assistance to those feeling overwhelmed or depressed. (They are nice people – earlier this fall they helped me find some resources.) If you want to participate, write about how you are adapting your holiday preparations to keep from becoming overwhelmed before midnight tonight. Full details can be found at the PBN blog.

To play along for Haiku Friday, follow these steps:

1. Write your own haiku on your blog. You can do one or many, all following a theme or just random. What’s a haiku, you ask? Click here.

2. Sign the Mister Linky below with your name and the link to your haiku post (the specific post URL, not your main blog URL). DON’T sign unless you have a haiku this week. If you need help with this, please let me know.

3. Pick up a Haiku Friday button to display on the post or in your sidebar by clicking the button at the top.

REMEMBER: Do not post your link unless you have a haiku this week! I will delete any links without haiku!

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Comments

  1. Yeah, our Christmas card list has gotten out of hand. We are up to almost 50 people on the list and that’s after we cut some out in recent years.

  2. Happy Haiku Friday!

    If it is any comfort, I have not yet written out my Christmas cards. But at least I’m done ordering and shipping gifts!

    Have a splendid weekend, everyone.

    Tink *~*~*
    My Mobile Adventures *~*~*

  3. sounds to me like a very wise decision. i have recently suggested to many people that they find another time of year to send their “holiday” cards – why add unncessarily to the stress of the season if you don’t have to. people will love a card in march or july when they least expect it. your card will not be one of a bunch but will be special. use it to celebrate another holiday special to your family or “just because” …hang in there. remember that the holidays are for your own enjoyment too!!!

  4. I haven’t done anything about the Christmas cards yet. But they’re in the works. I’m doing the majority of mine by e-mail this year – easier and cheaper!

  5. This year the Christmas cards I really wanted to send out since we just moved? Did not go out. Next year maybe you can send them for me. 😉

  6. I know this will probably just re-add to your Christmas card stress after finally dismissing them, but Walgreens.com is super easy and you can pick the cards up in like 5 hours. It’s around $10 for a pack of 20 with envelopes included, depending on the size and style you get.

    Yesterday I packed the family up to the park for about 20 minutes, took some pictures, uploaded them to Walgreen’s, and had Christmas cards that night. Talk about last minute!

  7. I hear ya … and I’m tempted to let them go this year because I’ve not yet created, printed, written notes in my Christmas Cards (as usual for this date) but it IS my task for the weekend and I’m hoping to get them finished and in the mail by Monday. I don’t send as many as I once did, but I suspect folks would wonder if they didn’t get my yearly holiday greeting.
    Hugs and blessings,
    aka storyteller

  8. I’m one of those who does a whole letter because everyone I care about is far away. I just wrote it yesterday — if I have them mailed by Christmas I’ll be ahead of my usual schedule. No haiku today from me, hope to be back in form next week!

  9. My Haiku is up…late this week I’m afraid. Merry Christmas everyone! 🙂

  10. Hoping your week is filled with bright lights and happy thoughts. Blessings and good Karma..

    Dorothy from grammology
    grammology.com

  11. I’m very late with my haiku, but at least I participated this week. Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

  12. Love the ku series. And congrats on marking one thing of the list, even if it’s not because you did it.

  13. i skipped the cards this year, too. i figure people will think, “oh, they just moved. of course they haven’t set a card.”

    or else they’ll think i’m a domestic zero (i love that tag!)

    and they can lump it.