Elfie...The Lazy, Accident Prone Elf

So...Our Christmas elf is lazy…And the tooth fairy is usually less than timely.  

Luckily Santa & the Easter Bunny each come only once a year, so they’re pretty on top of it.  Those two even leave notes & eat treats most of the time!

But the elf & the tooth fairy?  Not so much.

I’m awed by families whose elves make breakfast...take ski lessons...brush their teeth….Whatever those creative people come up with.  

One day my creative friend’s elf was found gambling with her girls’ Barbie dolls.  Silly elf.

And I have another friend who hasn’t been able to find theirs since her 7 year-old spotted him in his non-Christmas hiding place.

I’m somewhere in the middle.  And unfortunately when our elf stays put, it’s not even in the middle of a blizzard or anything.  So we simply refer to him as lazy.

One day I was pretty proud of myself when I staged him playing with the boys’ remote control cars.  I even turned the remotes & cars ON so it wouldn’t be questioned.  

But he was later found sprawled out on the floor & had seemingly been trampled by the cat.  So it’s probable the boys think he’s lazy and accident prone at this point.   

Anyway, I used to question my Elf abilities (because that must be a “thing” now, right?) to some degree. 

But I have since then realized it has nothing to do with my abilities.  

I’m well aware I have the ability to set my phone alarm to remind myself to move “Elfie”.  I’m capable.

I have the ability to make waffles & pour flour on the counter as if the silly elf made a mess.

But I don’t.  I just don’t….And it’s not because I’m incapable.

And it’s not because I don’t care.

It’s because I don’t care enough.

And that’s really the case with most things, isn’t it?

Maybe you don’t exercise.

Is it because you don’t care about your health?  

Probably not.  

Maybe you don’t read.

Is it because you hate books?

Probably not.

And a lot of this “stuff” has become especially apparent for all of us this year, hasn’t it?

Anyone else who used to think…“If we just didn’t have the kids’ activities every night, I’d make healthy meals...” 

“If I just didn’t have that commute every day I’d read more...” 

“If I just….”

Anyone?

The truth is we spend our time on our priorities.  Whether we want to admit it or not.

I haven’t prioritized staging the elf in creative ways, so I make an attempt a couple times each season.

I haven’t prioritized meal planning & cooking to the degree I think I should, so it’s intermittent.

Not because I don’t care but because I don’t care enough.

So if you really want to do that thing…

If you really want to be a master Elf stager…

If you really want your health to improve…

If you really want that new job...

If you really want to go on that trip (in 2023...or whenever the travel ban is over)...

How will you care enough? 

How will you prioritize it?   

How will you be more intentional?