Boxing Day

It is possible that Boxing Day is my favourite day of the year. Not just this year but every year!

I deliberately do nothing on Boxing Day. I have never been to a Boxing Day Sale. The thought of queues with people fighting over sale goods after the busyness of December leaves me cold.

I make Boxing Day all about me!

December seems to be all about everyone else. It’s about attending everyone's end-of-year celebrations, about buying gifts for everyone who has contributed to our lives - the teachers, the support people, clients, & friends. It’s about sorting food for everyone who comes. Sorting presents under the tree, sorting the decorations on the tree! So much doing!

And then you wake up and it's December 26th….The house is full of stuff. The fridge is full of food. My tummy is full of food! My heart is full of watching the kids on Christmas morning.

So Boxing Day is my day off. My day to read and rest and read some more. Reading is one of my favourite things to do. Escaping into the head of another to learn to be inspired or just to escape.

I started this when the kids were very little. Christmas Day was their day, Boxing Day was ours. Leave Mummy & Daddy alone and go and play with all the stuff you got yesterday!

Here is how to have the perfect Boxing Day:

1. Boundaries:
   Tell everyone you will not be available for anything social, shopping, cooking, organising, or visiting.

2. Catering:
   Have your favourite food available. A couple of posh chocolates, leftover pudding, and reading snacks. Start the day with a bubble and squeak of leftover ham and veggies fried in a bit of butter!

3. Shower:
   Have a long ‘I don’t need to go anywhere' shower. One where you use a gorgeous body wash and feel grateful for everything you have at this time of year. Cover yourself in body lotion.

4. Clothing:
   Wear something you love. Something that feels lovely. Something soft that makes you feel relaxed. Soft knit pants with a silk scarf work for me every time.

5. Books:
   I usually buy myself 3 or 4 new books and pop them under the tree. I adore books. They teach, inspire, and support me. Not one for a Kindle - I think the smell of a new book is the best.

6. People:
   There are only very special people I can be bothered with on Boxing Day. After all the ‘peopling’ of pre-Christmas, it is nice to restrict access on Boxing Day. Often I phone a special friend for a post-Christmas catch-up.

Eat, drink and stay merry.

Enjoy your day!