What’s Really Important and My Holiday Wish for You

{White Felted Wool Acorns from City Crochet on Etsy}

Running a creative business from home has its advantages and disadvantages. I’m totally smitten with my job. I love doing what I do which makes it difficult to stop working.

I don’t know about you, but I have a really hard time taking a day off. And, the thought of taking a week off makes me antsy. I’m about to take a week off for the holidays, and every time I think about it I have mixed feelings.

I’m super excited to spend time with my family and relax—but, I know that it means no writing, no mixed media, no sewing, no blogging, no Google reader, no Twitter, and very limited email. The last time I did that was for my honeymoon, and to be completely honest, I did work a little on my honeymoon.

When I’m sick, my husband has to tell me that I’m not allowed to work or I won’t take time off. And, even then, I sneak in a little work.

When I took a minute to breathe in between the Christmas shopping, blogging, packaging and shipping products, and putting together new products for 2011, I realized that I picked the job that I have in order to be happy—not to overwhelm myself and set unreasonable expectations.

While chatting with loved ones, especially my husband, they’ve all said the same thing, “You deserve a break. Just enjoy it.”

And, you know what? They’re right.

The world won’t stop turning, because I take a week off. Everything will still be here when I return.

So, if you’re anything like me, I want to be the one who tells you that, “You deserve a break. Just enjoy it.”

When everything is said and done, you’re probably not going to be thinking about the products you could have made if you worked that extra day or the emails you should have responded to faster. Nope. I know I wouldn’t.

I’d be thinking about playing with my dogs in the snow, long walks with my husband, sipping mimosas and eating cinnamon rolls in my pajamas with my family on Christmas morning. One thing I know for sure is that these simple moments matter more than anything.

The money and the job don’t mean anything without my friends and family.

With that said, I’ve got blog posts scheduled for next week—but I probably won’t be around very much. Things are just going to have to wait for a little while.

And, my holiday wish for you is that you do the same. I hope you have time to create memories, laugh, and enjoy your loved ones.