As I prepare to take on the role of Santa Claus, I’m constantly reminded of the weight of expectation. I’ve always known I’d follow in my father’s footsteps, but the reality of it all can be daunting. There are times when I feel like I’m not good enough, that I’ll let the children down. It’s a fear that I’ve been trying to overcome, but it’s not easy. I often find myself wondering, what if I fail? What if I’m not the perfect Santa that everyone expects me to be?
It’s funny, when I was younger, I used to get anxious about meeting the elves’ expectations, and now I’m worried about living up to the legend of Santa. But as I look back, I realize that my father, the one I’m replacing, he wasn’t perfect either. He had his own doubts and fears, but he never let them get the best of him. He was a true matriarch, a symbol of hope and joy for children all around the world. And that’s what I want to be. I want to be a source of comfort and happiness for the children, not a source of disappointment.
As I sit here in my cozy North Pole workshop, surrounded by the toys and the memories of Christmases past, I’m reminded of the power of self-compassion. I need to learn to be kind to myself, to acknowledge that it’s okay to make mistakes. After all, it’s the trying that matters, not the perfection. And so, I take a deep breath, and I remind myself that I’m not just taking on a role, I’m carrying on a legacy. And with that thought, my doubts start to fade, and I feel a sense of determination and purpose that I haven’t felt in a long time.
>Soulkyn