All I Want For Christmas Is My…Sanity?
Posted on 26. Nov, 2007 by admin in Inspiration
(Reprinted from my column that appeared in the 11-18 edition of The Evansville Courier and Press.) www.courierpress.com
The Holiday Machine is in full swing, with 44 days until Christmas. Are you prepared or panicked? Soon after Halloween, we begin the “count down” and anticipate the joy that the holidays can bring. But for many of us, living in our fast paced society, a sense of balance can be an elusive and tricky thing. Pile on the avalanche of holiday frenzy, and that can make it almost impossible to maintain. 
No matter what religious affiliation or tradition you celebrate, holiday excitement can bombard the senses, magnify familial difficulties, and drain our bank accounts. Consider all of the time and energy you already spend in your career and as a spouse and parent. Juggling those roles, while attempting to craft the “best and most magical Christmas ever,” can send many of us into a holiday meltdown that rivals a toddler tantrum. “Happy Holidays” and “Joy to the World,” are replaced with choice phrases like, “That’s my parking spot,” and “What do you mean you are out of XBOX 360s?!”
According to Caron J. Leader, LCSW, ACSW Psychotherapist, aha! – Architects of Human Awareness, “There are several reasons why our vision of the "perfect" holiday fails. We typically have an image of our "perfect" celebration which might stem from our childhoods, the movies, Martha Stewart or our vivid imaginations. The problem arises when we attempt to take this image and fit it into our reality. This rarely ever works and we set ourselves up for great disappointment.”
So, how can we avoid this? What are some practical ways to reclaim a meaningful and fun holiday season? “First, we need to get an attitude adjustment. Get rid of this idea that everything needs to look like a Christmas card. Eliminate the thought that it needs to be perfect. And, have some fun in the process,” says Marla Cilley aka “The Flylady”, New York Times best selling author of Sink Reflections and holiday organization expert.
Next, identify what holiday traditions your family truly cares about. Ask them. You might be surprised to learn that they really didn’t look forward to caroling, but they do love the big holiday meals. Armed with this new information, you can carve out what’s important, and also save some time when you bag the rest.
“If we challenge our beliefs about what is needed to make happy memories, we can plan our holiday celebrations without the added pressure of perfection and actually enjoy the holiday season,” Leader adds.
Planning ahead of time is essential. Keep a holiday file of everything from your shopping list, budget, to menus. “If not, you turn into this raving Christmas Banchee driving everyone else in the house crazy because you have waited until the last minute,” Cilley concludes.
Taking time for your self is paramount during this time of the year. We direct so much of our time and energy outward to other people, that we forget to remember ourselves. This year, schedule time for you and take a break. Do something that energizes and nurtures you. Take a walk, read a book, or just sit and enjoy the moment. Don’t just think about it, actually schedule it.
And, finally, make a fellow holiday shopper’s day. If you are fortunate enough to get caught in one of those long and painful lines at the post office or grocery store, and the person behind you is obviously stressed, give them your place in line. Watch the mood of the line change. With that one act, you can make your own season a little more authentic, and sane.
