This year, my Christmas tree taught me the virtues of patience and embracing the flow of life—just a little more than usual. If you're curious about my humorous battle with Christmas OCD, keep reading....... :)
For several years, we've enjoyed the convenience of a beautiful, pre-lit Martha Stewart tree. It pops up in just 45 seconds, lights twinkle beautifully, and requires no fluffing—truly amazing! However, last year, one of the light strands failed to light up. Though we managed to make it work, it nagged at me more than I’d like to admit.
As we packed away the decorations last year, I enlisted my incredibly patient husband to help me remove all 1,000 lights from the tree. He was less than thrilled. I was reluctant to buy a new faux tree because I still cherished this one. So my plan was to order a few new batches of twinkle lights and rewrap the entire tree this year. With his help… of course!
As November drew to a close, I realized I had only completed phase one of my Christmas décor; phase two—the tree—still awaited my attention. Just when I was ready to tackle the tree, I remembered that I had forgotten to order the lights. To complicate matters, our mail system in Canada went on strike for a month, leaving me anxious about receiving the lights in time.
My husband, ever the calm and logical thinker, suggested we use some lights we found in storage. While functional, they were far from ideal—bulky and nothing like my vision for the perfect tree. Ultimately, I gave in and decided to use them. They worked, but I wasn’t entirely satisfied.
On another note, every Christmas, I wrap all my paintings in different paper, creating a consistent vibe throughout our space (you can see the actual photo above). This year, however, I wasn’t in love with the paper I used; it had a muddier look than I had thought.
When it came time to decorate the tree, the ribbon I chose felt like a poor fit—just a bit too glittery against the wrapping paper. After a trip to the craft store, I discovered a better ribbon that aligned more with my preferred country/natural style (also pictured above). However, with so many decorations already on the tree, swapping out the old ribbon for the new required a complete overhaul. Call me crazy, but I felt it was a necessary step to re-do the entire tree again. So I guess now… I'm content with the outcome this Christmas tree.
In the end, I realize this story may seem trivial in the face of the world’s more pressing issues. Perhaps that's why I struggled with the imperfections: it was one aspect I felt I could control amid the chaos. Our tree has always held special significance for me—a symbol of Christmas beauty, stability, and perfectionism. While it never quite felt perfect, it ultimately became everything we needed it to be.
I would love for you to share your own quirky holiday stories about creative escapades. I believe this time of year allows for a little extra craziness, so let’s embrace it without judgment!
Wishing you a joyful holiday season.
Love,
Sarah
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