LOW-FUSS DECORATING FOR CHRISTMAS
If you are anything like I had been
before chronic pain, you have had your entire home decked out with all your
treasured holiday décor! I think I counted 40+ snowmen at the highest count I’d
strategically displayed around the house! As the years go by you find
yourself lugging out countless boxes, unpacking each one and going about
hunting out places to stick our treasures, only to have to duplicate all this
action in reverse weeks later. Just writing about this makes me want to forget it all this year. It has seriously become a problem for me since the
last three spine surgeries and the resulting Central Pain Syndrome spreading
from my upper body to my lower body after the last surgery. I just cannot do it all like I use too!
Thankfully, Hubby carries the boxes up from the basement for me, helps to set up the tree
and put on the lights. Then the boxes with the decorations and ornaments usually sit in the living room and dining
room for over a week with it all slowly getting put out as I am able (& with his help, as time allows).
With all the time that passes, Christmas closing in, I seriously
consider putting it all back!
Why bother getting the rest out to just to turn around and have to suffer through undoing it all? You all know how hard all that activity is with all the repetitive movement of lifting, reaching, twisting and bending. It gets the nerves and muscles burning and screaming! I’d get out of bed every day with great intentions of completing the decorating! However, dealing with chronic pain, it just doesn't happen as fast as we'd like! Eventually, I'd get out what I could and the leftover boxes end up getting put away! FULL! And the next year, those “extra” boxes remained in the basement. I opted to put up the minimal. I felt a bit sad, yet relieved. It is better to have less to decorate and to be able to have less pain!
Why bother getting the rest out to just to turn around and have to suffer through undoing it all? You all know how hard all that activity is with all the repetitive movement of lifting, reaching, twisting and bending. It gets the nerves and muscles burning and screaming! I’d get out of bed every day with great intentions of completing the decorating! However, dealing with chronic pain, it just doesn't happen as fast as we'd like! Eventually, I'd get out what I could and the leftover boxes end up getting put away! FULL! And the next year, those “extra” boxes remained in the basement. I opted to put up the minimal. I felt a bit sad, yet relieved. It is better to have less to decorate and to be able to have less pain!
No matter what decorations I am physically able to get out, it always brings joy to my heart! The glow of the tree with all the lights and ornaments, the snowmen that made "the cut" when I downsized the massive collection and the beautiful nativity, all bring cherished memories and happiness from many Christmases past!
I decorate for myself, but I also decorate for our little grandson! I so love when he comes to visit and looks with glee at all the decorations on the tree! I love it when he asks, with eyes wide and sparkly with excitement, "Grammy, can I hold that snowman for just a little bit, I promise to be careful!" As he gently holds one, his eyes search for the next one to beg to hold and adore!
Then comes the wonder in his eyes as he moves to the nativity! He knows I leave baby Jesus for him to place in the manger. After the baby is placed in the manger, he eyes Mary, Joseph, all the wise men, Shepard boy and animals that have all been strategically placed in and around the stable. His little hands go to reach, as he looks up to me and asks, "Grammy, can I touch them?" Grammy lovingly says, " I will help you! You aren't allowed to touch these by yourself for they are very dear to my heart. They use to be my mommy's and after she went to live with Jesus they became mine!" So I gently place whatever he wants to hold into his little tiny hands, hands that grow bigger every year!
For in those moments, memories are made! decorate all I can, knowing he will fondly remember his Grammy and holding these cherished items during Christmas's later in his life! Yes, not only is it celebrating the gift of baby Jesus to the world, but making memories with those we love gives a purpose to this life with chronic pain during Christmas. Making it all more tolerable to achieve is what we need to add into our new "normal" so we can be able to do all we are able.That is why I do whatever I can to These are some of the things that I have had to incorporate into my new “normal” with Christmas decorating. I hope that you find at least some of them useful:
- Simplify – you know what your body can tolerate, it lets you know! If you are finding yourself overwhelmed and having increased pain from all the decorating, you might want to consider what options you have as far as eliminating some of it. I have cut back to a few choice areas to decorate instead of the whole house, as well as the outside. Oh, and the basement! We put up our Christmas tree, my snowmen on the fireplace mantel and the nativity. Hubby hauls all the stuff up and down the basement steps for me and helps with the lights, as well as the nativity. I decorate the tree over several days. As well as put out the snowmen.
- Ask for help – Make it a family activity. Make a party out of it, order some pizza to be delivered and put on some Christmas music. Unless of course you enjoy doing it yourself. Spread it out over several days. If you are having a difficult time doing this on your own, maybe a friend would be delighted to help you, or even do it for you? You just never know who might be interested!
