The holiday season is here. The retail crush gets heavier and the bustle gets livelier. Dreams of moderation dash away magically like a post-Christmas Elf on the Shelf.

Working in a busy pharmacy at this time of year is a challenge. Physicians are trying to wrap up and take time off, leaving gaps in prescription continuity. After-hour clinics are busier, leading to longer waits and crankier dispositions. Many work extra to allow their colleagues a few days off with family and friends either before or after the holiday. Childcare is somewhat difficult for shift-workers when school is in recess.

So why again is it ‘the most wonderful time of the year?’

Well for me, the older I get, the more I am distracted by life. Work, hobbies, social commitments, family time, and financial obligations all become a drain on your energy (basically #adulting in general if you want to be trendy). There seems to be fewer and fewer instances during the year where you can just be. Then comes Christmas and Boxing Day. Almost everything is closed, even for just one of those days. Everyone wants to come together to share good conversation and good company. Folks are planning travel days and turkey dinners, church congregations triple in size as families honour the spirit of the season, and we grow nostalgic for the many traditions of our upbringing.

This year I have been remarkably slow in warming to the cheer. I still look forward to the Christmas Eve puzzle we put together as a group, sometimes accompanied by a tumbler of egg nog and a bowl full of cheesies and party mix. Nutcrackers make an appearance, with the resulting explosion of walnut shells scattered on the living room floor. The tree always seems to have more under it than the year before, and with another nephew arriving this past week, our clan keeps growing. Dad will have the woodstove roaring. The Ronnie Milsap Christmas album will play softly in the background, as it has since 1986 (oh, how my brother loathes it 🙂

As 2016 draws to a close, I have plenty for which to be thankful: a profession that has given me everything I have, a loving family both near and far, the best set of friends anyone could hope to have. I’m very much looking forward to just being; sitting and daydreaming with the in-laws on Christmas morning once the kids wake us up at 5:30am, and maybe catching the World Juniors starting on the 26th. We’ll attempt (key word) to divorce the kids from their iPods for a few hours in a row.

Once again, I’d be remiss to not extend a very Merry Christmas and happy holidays to Laura, who continues to share my blogging journey month in and month out. She motivates me more than she realizes, to share my thoughts and extend my horizons. Early in 2017, we hope to bring you posts on third-party insurance, some thoughts on opiate addiction, and perhaps she’ll let me do a cheap, overdone New Year’s resolution list 🙂 – (note from editor, she won’t)

From the two of us here at PharmAspire, we wish you the very best for the holiday season. Be safe, be merry, and aspire to enjoy this time of year to the fullest; take this time to hold your loved ones a little bit longer and a little bit tighter.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any agency, employer or affiliation.