Holiday Music and Procrastination Brain

Do you ever have so much to do that it paralyzes you completely?

That is what I am struggling with today. We leave tomorrow for a Christmas break and with the added precautions and tests to take there is a schwack of last-minute things that need to be done. Including two loads of my son's laundry that I have been asking for for the last week. 

Yes, we are choosing to travel right now. Just like everyone else, we have had a ridiculously hard year and mentally, I need a break from this city and these four walls. Living in historical times is not for the weak of heart. 

I always feel guilty for taking vacations, I think because growing up that my thought was vacationing was for were rich people. And we are not rich. Not even close. My mom never took vacations when I was a kid. I think it was more of a money issue than a desire issue. I know for sure she could have used many. 

I feel bad for leaving the animals, even though they are left in very good hands. Maybe it is the Catholic roots deep within my family tree, or to psychoanalyze myself for a minute, maybe I don't feel like a deserve one. The guilt disappears though as soon as I see the ocean. 

"Be kind" is something I say frequently and something that I think everyone needs to do. Not just to others, but to ourselves as well. Brains can be mean and whisper hurtful things and lie to you. It's okay to tell your brain to shut up sometimes. Or to realize that those intrusive thoughts are not your real thoughts, more your worst fears being spoken in a terrible attempt to force you to recognize them for the silliness that they are. 

So, I am going to take a deep breath and go deal with all of the things I need to get accomplished today. You'll hear from me on my break, don't worry. The music recommendations will continue.

In the spirit of Christmas vacation, today's song should be easy to guess. Most of us know the song thanks to that movie from the 80's starring Chevy Chase. Mele Kalikimaka plays on and off in the background of several scenes. The song was written by a golf partner of Bing Crosby's in 1949 after a receptionist in his office asked why there were no Hawaiian Christmas songs. Since then the family of the receptionist has received royalties every year.