How to have a peaceful Advent in spite of yourself

ive taken myself out to breakfast today. Most Fridays, I drop my son off at school and head home until time to drive to my storytelling gig. It’s not really easy to leave my warm house, though, and I end up being late more than I like. So today, I came to the cafe to read and eat and drink hot coffee, a moment quiet in a busy time.

Advent is the four Sundays before Christmas, and the days in between. It’s a season of waiting and preparing, and usually in our world, that means a time of rushing and busyness that chase away any chance of peace. My son’s birthday is right in the middle of Advent, and as a perfectionist, I drive myself crazy every year, trying to make the season beautiful and fun and peaceful and reverent and sparkly and PERFECT DAMNIT! Not so peaceful, huh?
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so what do we do? How can we find that peace and quiet our souls are craving as the earth darkens and rests?

Here’s what I’m trying. Maybe it will help you, too.
* stopping and saying, “What’s most important here?” Sometimes the answer surprises me.

* lighting candles and Xmas lights whenever I can.

* saying I’m sorry when I get anxious and irritable with my dearest ones.

* not reading the Advent book that was making me mad and uncomfortable. Too evangelical for us, and really hard for me to read aloud. Not my style.

* reading other books instead (list to come!)

* coffee. Lots.

*breathing. Lots.

How are you finding peace these days? What are you struggling with? Let me know!