Hi there. Welcome to Canadian Senior Moment.
It’s December 23rd. Tomorrow is Christmas Eve. The day after that, Christmas. The countdown is nearly over.
If you’re feeling a bit frantic right now, scrambling to finish everything, you’re not alone. But here’s what I want to suggest: stop for a moment. Take a breath. Let’s talk about finding some calm in these final hours before the celebration begins.
The Anticipation of December 23rd
There’s something unique about this day. Christmas isn’t here yet, but it’s close enough to feel real. The anticipation builds. The preparation reaches its peak. Everything you’ve been working toward for weeks is about to happen.
When we were children, December 23rd felt electric. Two more sleeps. School was out for the holidays. The house smelled like baking. Decorations were up. Presents were wrapped (or almost wrapped). The waiting was almost unbearable, but in the best way.
As adults, December 23rd often feels different. Less anticipation, more pressure. The mental checklist runs constantly: Did I get everything? Is the food ready? Are the presents wrapped? Who’s coming when? What did I forget?
But maybe, just maybe, we can reclaim a bit of that childhood feeling. Not the naive excitement (we’re too old for that), but the sense of something good coming. The calm anticipation instead of frantic stress.
What’s Actually Left to Do?
Let’s be practical. December 23rd is your last full day before Christmas Eve. So what really needs to happen today?
The essentials:
- Final grocery shopping if you’re hosting
- Wrapping any remaining gifts
- Tidying the house if guests are coming
- Confirming plans with family
What can wait or be skipped:
- Perfect cleaning (good enough is fine)
- Elaborate decorating additions
- Complicated last-minute projects
- Things you thought you “should” do but don’t actually need to do
Here’s the truth: if it’s not done by tonight, it probably doesn’t matter that much. Christmas will happen anyway. People will come anyway. Joy doesn’t require perfection.
Permission to Let Things Go
Maybe you planned to bake six kinds of cookies but only managed three. That’s fine. Three is plenty.
Maybe the house isn’t as tidy as you hoped. Nobody’s inspecting. They’re coming to see you, not your baseboards.
Maybe you didn’t get the perfect gift for someone. A simple, thoughtful gift given with love beats a perfect gift given with stress.
Maybe you’re not hosting at all because it’s too much this year. That’s wisdom, not failure.
Whatever you planned but didn’t accomplish, it’s okay. Let it go. You’ve done enough.
Taking a Moment to Breathe
Right now, before the busyness of tomorrow and the next day, give yourself permission to pause.
Sit with a cup of tea or coffee. Look at your Christmas tree if you have one. Listen to a favorite carol. Watch the snow fall if you’re lucky enough to have a white Christmas coming.
Remember why you’re doing any of this: connection, tradition, celebrating something meaningful. Not perfection. Not impressing anyone. Just being together and marking the season.
The Memories We Carry
Think about past December 23rds. The excited ones when you were young. The exhausting ones when your kids were small and you were racing to get everything ready. The quiet ones after children moved away. The sad ones after losing someone you loved.
All of those days led to this one. You’ve survived every December 23rd you’ve ever experienced. You’ll survive this one too, and probably even enjoy parts of it.
For Those Alone This Christmas
If you’re spending Christmas alone, December 23rd might feel particularly hard. Everyone else seems to be preparing for big gatherings while you’re facing quiet days ahead.
That’s genuinely difficult. But remember: you can still make these days meaningful in small ways. A special meal for yourself. A favorite movie. A phone call with someone you care about. A walk if weather permits.
You don’t need to force joy, but you can find moments of peace. And that’s enough.
For Those Who Are Struggling
Maybe money is tight and Christmas feels impossible financially. Maybe you’re grieving and can’t imagine celebrating. Maybe health issues have made everything harder. Maybe family conflict has stolen any joy from the season.
If Christmas feels heavy instead of light, you’re not alone. Many people are struggling through rather than celebrating through these days. There’s no shame in that.
Do what you can. Skip what you can’t. Be gentle with yourself. Survival counts as success sometimes.
The Beauty of Almost-There
There’s something lovely about December 23rd when you let yourself feel it. The Christmas lights glowing in the evening. The anticipation of seeing loved ones. The traditions about to unfold. The hope (even small hope) that these next few days will bring something good.
We’re standing on the edge of Christmas. Tomorrow it begins in earnest. But today, right now, we can pause and breathe and prepare our hearts, not just our homes.
A Simple Evening
Tonight, December 23rd, consider doing something calm:
Light a candle and sit quietly for ten minutes. Just sit. Just breathe.
Call someone you love and have an unhurried conversation.
Watch a favorite Christmas movie without multitasking.
Read a Christmas story or poem.
Go for a walk and look at neighborhood lights.
Go to bed at a reasonable hour instead of staying up finishing things.
Rest. You’ll need energy for the days ahead.
Our Shared Wisdom
How are you feeling on December 23rd? Excited? Stressed? Peaceful? Overwhelmed? What helps you find calm in these final hours before Christmas? What do you always do on December 23rd?
**Your turn:** Hit reply and share your thoughts! We read every response and often feature reader stories in future articles.
Tomorrow
Tomorrow, Christmas Eve, we’ll reflect on how that special night felt then and feels now.
But today, breathe. You’re ready enough. Christmas will come whether everything’s perfect or not. And it will be okay.
Warmly,
Bill and Marilyn,
Founders of Canadian Senior Moment
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**Bill Gould** spent 43 years as a long-haul truck driver before trading the steering wheel for a keyboard to help fellow Canadians navigate the road of retirement. A freelance writer, published author, and editor of over 50 books, Bill co-founded *Canadian Senior Moment* with his wife, Marilyn, to provide a trusted space for seniors to find clarity, safety, and connection in the digital age. When he isn’t troubleshooting “tech gremlins” or sharing childhood memories of the Prairies, he can be found in his woodshop or working on his latest novel.