There are many explanations of the history of Boxing Day. (That's the day after Christmas, in case this is new to you.) The one I like the best says that Boxing Day originated in England as a way to give the servants a day off, plus they received the leftovers of the previous day's feast from their employer in "boxes", hence Boxing Day.
We don't celebrate Boxing Day in America, but if we did, I'd vote for making it a day that YOU take off. Give YOU a day off: a day off from the stress of the holiday season, a day off from giving too much to too many, a day off in which YOU actually put YOUrself first, a day where YOU do exactly what YOU want to do. Sounds kind of radical, doesn't it? For many folks, it IS a radical idea because taking of themselves is something they've never really done.
We both know that some folks will label this "radical" behavior as selfish. The ones who tell you you're selfish are most likely to be the ones who are inconvenienced by YOU taking care of yourself first for a change.
Maybe someday we'll adopt Boxing Day as a holiday here, but until we do, here's what I really hope you'll do: write Boxing Day in big letters on your calendar and then write this: DAY FOR ME. YOU deserve it.
Karen
