The Journey Inward

I love the title I envisioned for this piece and kept singing it to myself a la “Shiny Happy People” by R.E.M. as I was walking at lunch today. I was reflecting on a conversation I’d had on Tuesday with our Learning Leader. She was saying how fun the holiday festivities are, but also how stressful they are. I had to admit she was right to some extent. Cases in point…

My principal puts out a newsletter every weekend and the last one let us know that we would have a 10 day countdown starting Monday, Dec. 1 that would entail spiritwear and a game. The spirit wear theme is western and/or Christmas/holiday, and I packed nothing suitable in my luggage to move here. Because why would I? So now I have to buy silly stuff I most likely won’t wear again. And believe me, I’ve got endless reading and writing t-shirts, kindness and acceptance t-shirts, school spirit wear, but western is just not my thing. Also, there are no Walmarts or Marshalls here, so I have to go to many different stores to find what I need. Monday was western wear, so I had a suede pair of boots, jeans, a light blue blouse and a tan long sleeved suede-ish shirt that I paired with a brown belt and a braided hair headband. Not bad. Yesterday was animal print, so I bought and wore a scarf. Today was rhinestones. I found a glitter star headband at Pick and Pay groceries. Tomorrow is bandanas, and I got that from a party store. It’s exhausting and I’ve run out most evenings after work to shop.

On top of that, we get a game in our inbox each day at different times, with different activities, due at different times of day.

Next up is Secret Santa. I have my person to buy for and even a list of what she likes, but again, I’ll have to run to many shops and the price limit is pretty low.

Tomorrow we’ve been asked to contribute to our principal’s birthday luncheon. He is hosting our staff party Friday night and we are to wear full on western gear and we’re supposed to be learning line dances. I bought cowboy hats and bandanas for myself and my two teaching partners for the party. I figure jeans, the boots and belt and I’m set.

I’m also trying to Christmas shop for the girls and their guys. Nothing big since my holiday travel is very expensive, but just some fun stuff from here.

Then there is regular spirit week stuff…house shirt on Wednesdays, school shirt on Fridays. I totally forgot today.

So am I complaining? No, I’m really not. But Gill’s comment really made me think how much stress and pressure we add in the name of fun at a time that we really are already busy enough!