Once July is behind us, the rest of the year just flies pastand we suddenly find ourselves hurtling straight back into the 'silly season'. And it feels as if we haven't really recovered from the last one! It's true that the older you get, the quicker time passes - so the best we can do is to use our time efficiently and to the greatest advantage. This is easier said than done, because no matter how good our intentions, life seems to conspire against us to keep us on the treadmill.

I have spent my life working towards the time when I can happily be in a 'comfort zone', and can never understand the motivational books that tell us adamentaly that we must pull ourselves out of our comfort zone. Why? When you have worked so hard, and for so long, to get there, why on earth shouldn't you enjoy every second of it? Just the thought of finally achieving this state of bliss keeps me going!
I am lucky enough to have been there once before in my life, and let me tell you - I loved it! I wallowed in it - I revelled in it and enjoyed every second whilst it lasted (which wasn't long enough, unfortunitly). To have time to do all the things you have always wanted to do, time to just 'be' instead of 'do', and not to have the endless controls and commitments that rule your life, is a wonderful experience. Never once in my adult life have I yet had the time to be bored - what a bonus this would be!
Being an 'A' type personality, I can never sit still for any length of time (unless I have a really good book to read, which I can happily finish in one sitting). It is always said that you have to have a reason to get out of bed in the morning, and that wthout this, our lives are actually cut short through sudden inactivity, but this has never been a problem for me. As the saying goes 'so much to do, so little time' - and I'm sure this applies to most of us.
I hate to say it, but the drive and desire to achieve and advance up the corporate ladder, or grow bigger in your own business, seems to peak in your thirties (or so) and then slowly dwindle over time, but that is the way the life cycle works. For every purpose there is a season! I loved my younger years of constant motion and acievement, and am very proud and pleased at what I managed to do, but the focus these days has definetly become more on the quality of life, and having the time to 'stop and smell the roses'.
To get back to the downhill slide to the 'silly season', I have already booked venues and sent out invitationsfor year end functions! People groan in disbelief when they see these, but let me tell you, everything is done so much earlier now than before, and if you don't get your invitations out months in advanc, you find that people already have prior engagements. So get in quick!

Many venues are already fully booked for every Friday and Saturday from mid October until the first week of December, so if you haven't done anything yet, I suggest you make the necessary reservations as soon as possible. Get the best of what is available, rather than the dregs!
THis, of course, applies to all the services necessary to make your event a success, so do it all now!
Having said how early everything happens, I walked into a shop the other day and saw holly and mistletoe draped around the cashiers cubicles. This is a bit much! I fully expected Boney M to be playing as background music! I told the cashier that they must be the very first shop in Johannesburg to have already started their Christmas decorations, only to be told that these were still there from last year! This certainly gives them a head start on everyone else!
It is still a source of amazement to me that in our hot climate, we still haven't 'Africanized' our Christmas and Christmas decorations more effectively. In fact, most of the exquisitely beaded balls and decorations are exported! We are probably all traditionalists at heart, and my whole family waits in anticipation for the turkey and glazed ham, followed by the Christmas pudding! I have no idea why we do this, I only know that I am more guilty of arranging the traditional English Christmas than most people!
Perhaps this year we should all make an effort to support our local entrepreneurs and have a truly South African Christmas. How about a Ficus instead of a fir tree, beaded balls in place of bells, and impala rather than reindeer? Or will this lose the whole romance of Christmas, especially with younger children?
Maybe some things just can't be changed!
Best wishes to all until next year!