Are You Mad About the Holidays?
© Suzanne W. Zoglio, Ph.D.
I'm mad about the holidays can mean
many things: crazy in love with, crazy with
busyness, or even
crazy angry at all the
commercialization. Which crazy describes
you? Or, like me, are you a blend
of all
three?
I love the holidays with all the music,
bright lights, and smell of fresh
evergreens. It warms my heart to
see
neighbors open their homes to others and
collect toys for children. I feel nurtured
when friends deliver fresh-baked cookies or
invite me in for a cup of cheer. I'm
delighted to receive once-a-year notes from
folks who still hold a place in my heart. It
tickles me to create and give away small
holiday paintings. I am grateful for so many
opportunities to make a difference this time
of year.
But, like most of us, I have been known
to get crazy busy, trying to pack so much in
that I end up
exhausted. I'm much better
than I used to be, though, so I know There's
hope¦ if you're willing to plan
and take
a stand for sanity.
Taking a stand means breaking a few
rules. My Breakable Rule#1: All treats must
be homemade.
Sure. It's nice to bake
Grandma's famous mincemeat pie for the
family gathering, but remember Grandma
wasn't working back then, and great prepared
pies weren't so plentiful. Not to mention
that if the pie plate looks the same, you
have a 98% chance of no one noticing¦or even
calling your purchased concoction the best
you've ever made. If you're not quite ready
to go store-bought, at least consider
time-saving steps like ready-made crusts,
prechopped nuts, or pre-diced fruit for the
filling. Chopped celery for the stuffing,
refrigerated mashed potatoes (no one will
notice), or refrigerated cookie dough can
all make cooking easier.
Breakable Rule #2: All traditions are
sacred. No they're not! Be kind to all is
sacred, but not eating
at 2 PM (if 5
works better for you), offering four
different pies, mailing gifts across the
country,
attending every gathering
offered, organizing Pollyannas. Do something
new that works better for
you. Invite
people for a time that makes sense to you.
Offer what you wish, not what you've always
had.
Order gifts online. Send regrets to
invites requiring an hour's drive each way.
Give to charity instead of
buying dozens
of silly exchange gifts. Just say We're
trying something new this year. A few
eyebrows might raise, but I bet the sky
doesn't fall.
Breakable Rule #3: More is better. The problem with the more-is-better approach is that it not only adds to the crazy-busy problem, but it also escalates year to year. You bring a bottle of wine; your brother brings two. Next, you bring a few, and the n he's sending a case. Try to remember it's the thought “not the amount- that counts. More stuff does not equal more thoughtfulness. Most of us would truly appreciate one gift that says someone knows us than five showy gifts that just seem to obligate us. Take the first step. Try simplifying this year and see if others don't follow your lead next year.
If you get crazy angry this time of year,
it might be because you feel out of control,
not doing what's
meaningful to you. Maybe
you don't like all the giftgiving but feel
obliged. Why not send a check to the
Red
Cross this year and ask others to do the
same instead of sending you gifts?
If too much reverie and not enough reverence makes you uneasy, attend a sacred music concert or an event at your place of worship. If you feel sad amidst the merriment, consider creating a tribute to someone you've lost, adopting a family to provide for their holidays, or volunteering at a soup kitchen or pantry.
If you enjoy what you love, avoid what you don't, and do something meaningful, you just might become happily mad about the holidays this year.
© Suzanne W. Zoglio, Ph.D.
Articles
- 7 Keys to Building Great Teams
- A Region Suffers-A Nation Grieves
- Are You Mad About the Holidays?
- Are You Wired For Success?
- At The Crossroads of a Tickled Soul
- Begin the Healing
- Don't Let Stress Get the Best of You
- Every Soldier
- Feel More Alive in the New Year
- Gratitude is a Gift
- Have More Energy
- Living Full -- Living True: The Authentic Life
- No More Monday Blahs
- Pursuing Passion
- Quick Lifts for Busy People
- Recharge Your Team: 3 Secrets to Boosting Energy
- Resilience: The Art of Bouncing Back
- Soulful Living is Living from the Inside Out
- The Presence of Christmas
- There's More to Life than Gathering Nuts
- Three Steps to Increasing Inner Peace
- You Can Lift Yourself Up