No wreaths and holly or singing Muppets in my annual Christmas post this year.
Instead I hope you will join me in a new holiday tradition!
In the United Kingdom, Australia and elsewhere throughout the world, to “down tools” means to stop working, typically because you are protesting working conditions or staging a work stoppage in support of someone or a cause.
This holiday season, why not “down tools” because you ARE satisfied with your working conditions? Because you value your job but more so because you treasure your family and friends, you treasure this season of the year … and you treasure the chance to be away, be quiet and still .. and just be.
Last week Formula 1 driver Mark Webber posted a message that he was glad to be home in Australia and was going “tools down” until after the New Year. That inspired this post and encouraged me to put tools down over the holidays myself. It will be nice to take a break from the computer. I’m even going to pack away my new Kindle Fire. Phone: essential use only. TV? I am going to break away from that, too.
I’m going to enjoy real live honest-to-goodness conversation with family and friends. I’m going to enjoy real live honest-to-goodness books. I’m going back to honest-to-goodness cookbooks to cook and bake.
Happy Holidays to each of you. Enjoy your celebrations, hug your family, thank your friends … and do something special for yourself.
The time to pick up the tools once again will come soon enough.
