Does everyone expect you to be a Santa too?

In this old “For Better or For Worse” comic Strip by Lynn Johnston, from 20/12/09, she has the mother and her two young children walking down a street at Christmas time and in the first 3 panels, while at different locations, there is a Santa clause in each one. As also in the 4th panel, where the young son turns to his mother and asks: “Mom? How come there are so many Santas?” “We saw one in the Mall, an’ one on the street an’ now this one here!” To which his mum replies, “Maybe they’re ALL Santa Claus! To which her son replies: “Is that even Possible?!” To which mum replies “Sure!” Before going onto add, “The job of being a Santa is pretty special … It’s just like the job of being a mum!” Then adds under her breath, “Everyone expects you to do everything and be everywhere at the same time!!!!”
Sad but true isn’t it? And not just with mothers either. Sometimes, people treat us like Santa and expect us to do everything, be everywhere and give them exactly what they want, and when they want it too!
Of course if you have ever been in that situation, you will know that eventually it becomes unsustainable and you just burn out. So if you are currently in that situation and it looks like lasting even though you know you can’t, you need to just stop and re-evaluate things. This may mean, not taking on anymore tasks until you have relief or finish with the tasks you already have. It may mean delegating some or many tasks to others. Or it may mean simply dropping some tasks completely. At its most extreme, it may even mean changing jobs, if the situation can’t or won’t be changed. The end result is of course in your hands and you have to make the choice based on both what you can do and what is best for all concerned.
By all means, be a Santa when you can, but don’t ruin your health or your life doing it. Remember Santa is only Santa at Christmas time and has a break for the rest of the year! So maybe, just maybe, you need a regular break too! Maybe not as long as Santa’s but a good one nonetheless! Again over to you now.
P.S. If you don’t like being treated like a Santa, spare a thought for others too, and don’t treat them like Santas either!