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Do you sometimes struggle with ‘getting it right' or ‘getting it perfect'? Do you struggle with just ‘getting it done'?

I have found that as I age and get older… I get more tired. (I am sure part of that comes from the fact that my plate is not only full, it is also overflowing!)

For the past few years I love and dread my Christmas decorating. It's not that it is hard…it is just time spent doing something when what I really want is a nap. Do you feel this way too? I love it when I am finished and I do keep all of the decorations up until late January…at least.

My friend, Kaye Copelan, has been writing the most engaging and encouraging Facebook posts since quarantine started. Her life went from 150 mph to 0. And her perspectives about life as she sits on her front porch, crashes her ATV, fishes from her dock or decorates her ‘perfect' Christmas tree are amazing. I will gather them all someday and make a book. In the meantime…

This Facebook post was so incredible I had to share.

The ‘Perfect' Christmas Tree.

Finding joy in the simple things…

I’m one of ‘those' that loves Christmas! My ‘perfect' tree always goes up around Thanksgiving… either the day before… the day of …or the day after, but no later. I’ve always taken pride in my tree. Decorating was a right of passage and I learned everything from my mom in the early years.

She had a love for decorating, wrapping the perfect package, and everything Christmas! Then in college, I worked for Kent (Designs By Kent) and for those that know him…need I say more??? He taught me all about how to create ‘the perfect tree' and to tie the perfect bow!

Through the years, I enjoyed one-upping the bar I set for myself the year before. However, the busier I became, I found the harder it was to produce the perfect tree. I mean, I did it. Come hell or high water…I did it…no matter how tired or how little time I had. I always did it. But did I enjoy it like I used to? I hate to admit it…but the answer is no.

We all know timing is everything when it comes to decorating ‘the perfect tree'. It takes time to make so many steps up and down the stairs and ladders. It takes time to make so many trips to the attic or storage. It takes time to check lights and to hang ornaments and to tie bows. Right?

When I thought about it this year, I realized that somehow I managed to let that valuable commodity of TIME' slip away… and in doing that, I began to dread the task that I had once loved so much. How did I let myself get to that point? Where did that child-like Christmas anticipation go????

The answer is LIFE! Somehow, I accidentally let life get in the way of ‘the perfect tree.' I decided this year would be different! Because after all…this year has been one for the history books for sure!

A Charlie Brown year, demands a Charlie Brown tree don’t you agree??? Well, I figured it was as good of an excuse as any to let this be the year to give myself a break…to have a little fun with it…to give up the competition with myself to create the ‘perfect' tree!

So what did I do this year???

I searched a tree farm in a neighboring county…I searched a home and design center and I searched the web …all for the perfect tree and then I gave up. I simply gave up on the perfect tree. End of story. I made a decision that in this Charlie Brown year I was not going to have the ‘perfect tree.'

So, the night before Thanksgiving, my nephew and I struck out in the rain in search of ‘the perfect Charlie Brown tree!' We searched for it, we chose it, cut it, hauled it in and we decorated it together. We poured some wine. We strung some lights. We laughed. We hung some ornaments. We sang. We draped tacky garland. We danced. We mixed themes and favorites. We cried. We used a blanket for the skirt. We talked. We created the perfect tree!

Most importantly, we created the perfect new tradition

It was liberating and hilarious and and most of all…it was FUN! A Charlie Brown tree for a Charlie Brown year! Appropriate don’t you think?

The moral to the story...I encourage you to give up whatever it is that sucks the joy out of your life. Be it old traditions or lofty expectations that you put on yourself. Whatever it is…let it go. Find joy in the simplicity of life … find your inner Charlie Brown and stay encouraged

Kaye Copelan,

I hope you enjoyed Kaye's story about the perfect Christmas tree. I don't know about you, but I would surely have LOVED to be a part of all of that. What fun!