Presence Is More Valuable Than Presents

As you’re wrapping up those last-minute business details and preparing for the final holiday rush, take a moment to reflect: What does Christmas truly mean to you and your spouse?

Too often, the holiday season becomes a whirlwind of obligations—dashing from one gathering to another, juggling expectations, and trying to please everyone else. But Christmas should be about more than just checking boxes on a holiday to-do list.

Christmas Epiphany

This morning over coffee, a young man I mentor shared a powerful realization he recently had. He and his wife used to spend Christmas Eve and Christmas Day bouncing from one family home to another, going to friend’s parties, and filling their days to the brim. By the end, they were more exhausted than fulfilled.

This year, they’re doing it differently. They’ve decided to celebrate Christmas in a way that aligns with their values and priorities—not out of obligation or someone else’s expectations.

And that got me thinking: How many of us do things during the holidays simply because we feel we have to, rather than because it brings us joy or deepens our connections with those we love?

From the gifts we buy to the gatherings we attend, it’s worth asking: What’s it all for? And who is it for?

Celebrate Your Way

This Christmas, I encourage you to celebrate in a way that truly matters to you and your spouse. For Kay Lee and me, that means:

1. Recognizing and honoring the birth of our Lord and Savior.
2. Connecting with each other, reflecting on the year past, and dreaming about the year ahead.
3. Spending time with family and friends we genuinely want to be with.
4. And of course, cooking some great meals—our Christmas dinner menu this year is Osso Bucco!

So, as you plan your holiday, don’t be afraid to say no to obligations that don’t align with your priorities. Celebrate in a way that creates lasting memories for you, your spouse, and your family.

From our family to yours, Buon Natale (Merry Christmas in Italian)! Make it your own.

See you in the New Year,

Robert and Kay Lee

P.S. If you want help identifying ways to improve your work-life balance. Build your business for greater freedom with a complimentary Marriage and Business Assessment (MBA) by clicking here >>

Biography: Robert and his wife Kay Lee run a consulting business that assists entrepreneur couples to create better balance in life and business. If you need a roadmap for greater work-life balance, buy their newly released book, Tandem: The married entrepreneurs' guide for greater work-life balance. Click here to purchase >>