Happy Holidays and How to Get Through Them
The holidays are just around the corner. Wasn’t it just Labor Day? Well, apparently not, and it’s time for those of us who can rise to the occasion to do so.
It’s a well-known fact that if you have problems in your life, the holidays are about the hardest time of year. If your marriage is shaky or your children have problems, odds are they will escalate during the holidays. Another huge strain for some families is that most people involved in affairs won’t leave the family before or during the holidays—usually just an excuse to never leave at all. If you’re depressed, bereaved, or anxious, the issue is likely to get worse instead of better at this time of year.
And, of course, family life means holiday family gatherings which, although they’re supposed to be the best of times, often end up being quite the opposite.
It’s December 9, and almost all of my Christmas gifts are purchased and wrapped. My husband’s Hanukah card and gifts are good to go. The holiday cards are going in the mail tomorrow. As for Christmas baking, well, I don’t do that. If you do, I guess you can’t do it early or your goodies risk going stale.
Never in my life have I been so hyper-prepared for Christmas. The reason? I will be moving and have a book coming out this month. The only thing I had any control over timing was preparing for Christmas.
But even if I didn’t have other huge things going on, being ready for the holidays weeks before them feels unprecedentedly good.
I’ve made myself a few Christmas resolutions; it’ll be time for New Year’s resolutions soon enough. Here are my resolutions for the best Christmas possible.
Don’t expect my husband to help me. That way, I can only be happily surprised and won’t be disappointed or annoyed.
Take it easy on the alcohol at family gatherings. It may dull our senses, but it sharpens our emotions.
If someone says something that irritates me, I will simply smile and let the subject drop.
If noisy children begin to grate on my nerves, I will visit the bathroom for as long as I need to escape.
If I find myself feeling jealous of something someone else has, I will count my many blessings and be grateful for the talents I was given.
If I don’t like a life choice a loved one has made, I will MYOB, and say nothing.
If I feel scared, bored, or overwhelmed I will not talk about it. If the problem persists, I’ll talk to a friend or a professional in a day or two. The holidays are a time of celebration.
Maybe some of these tips will help you, too. Let me know. And have a wonderful holiday.
