It seems like it was 2008 just yesterday. I have realized for awhile that it has to do with how quickly the stores go through the holidays. Before Halloween, I noticed that they had already taken out the Christmas stuff. The kids even said something about it.

“Mommy, they have Christmas ornaments?”

I couldn’t believe it that even Thanksgiving had been forgotten. I’ve been realizing lately that time has been going by faster and faster, and I need to slow it down somehow. My kids are now eight and six.  It feels like they were babies yesterday, and I don’t them growing up too fast.  I want to enjoy every second with them.  Slow down.

While reading Martha Stewart’s “Body and Soul” magazine, one tip was to be conscious of your breathing. I realized that I do breathe pretty shallow and fast. When I had done yoga, the one or two times, you do have to focus on your breathing, and I felt a whole lot better.  It’s a good way to feel like time isn’t flying by.

Stop being so busy is another thing that I need to do. I need to realize that I am not superwoman, so I can’t say yes to everything. Even when I am tired, I say yes. It’s time that I learn that it’s ok to say no. No one is going to get upset if I can’t go to an event or do something (well…maybe my mom =P). This weekend I was stretched thin, and by the time Sunday came around, I was so tired that I couldn’t move.

I sometimes feel like I am in that movie “Dark City,” and that there are white, bald men in black trenchcoats controlling what I do or how I do it. I go to sleep, and they come, modify the world, and then wake me back up.

I plan to enjoy a long, relaxing holiday season without feeling the need to rush around. I hope you do the same.

Photo Detail: Dark City, originally uploaded by teabaek.