It’s the night before Christmas, how are you doing?
If you’re stressed, filled with anxiety and overwhelmed you are not alone. It is easy for us to get our expectations set a little high during the holidays and then when it doesn’t happen the way we had hoped or planned we get down. Certainly staring at all the social media posts of happy faces, perfect family photos and of course expectations met complete with holiday best attire does not help. Keep in mind we all have a habit of posting our best moments or writing them down in the holiday greeting cards. But then life is more than just the best moments.
What we need to do is spend a few minutes in the peace and quiet giving thanks. Yes, thanks. Come up with five things that you are thankful for and reflect on each of them for a couple minutes. It is easy to do if you give it a chance and NO ONE is watching, trust me. You are living a pretty good life if you just look for the good news, the sweet angles, the successes and the love that surrounds you. Let go of the negative stuff, it isn’t doing you any good anyway.
I have a tendency to do too much during the holidays so early on I gave myself permission to let go of a few things. Guess what, it was one of the best decisions of the year. Instead of quarantining myself in the kitchen making dozens and dozens of cookies I let me family know they were on desert detail this year. Instead of setting extra business meetings and luncheons I took time with friends and even some down time in my home. No big Christmas gifts under the tree this year and it was the most rewarding shopping experience I have had in a very long time. We are not the Rockwell family and this year I didn’t even try.
My wish for you this holiday season is to not try to be the Rockwell painting you see hanging everywhere and just sit down, relax and let the family roll over you with all the steam they carry. They won’t even know you are taking a few minutes to breathe and be thankful that they are them and you are you and you have everything you need.