Happy Holidays

The hustle and bustle...

The running around...

The shopping...

The long lines...

The maxed out credit cards...

The traveling...

Now, take a deep breathe and stop and clear your mind.  Lets think...but what about the magic?  Where is all that "tis the season" & "holly jolly" kindness anymore?  Drivers cut each other off without warning, doors aren't held for others at the post office when packages are being carried beyond anyone's site, and people have no patience.

The holidays come so fast that before the one we are trying to experience is even here, we are already preparing for the following festivities that are months and months away.  Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas... on December 26th mark my words, you will be seeing Valentines Day Candy on the shelves at your local markets. 

What ever it is that you are going to celebrate within the next few weeks remember the basics...remember what all of the craziness around us is all about!! Family, Food, Friends, Memories, Celebrating.  Enjoy Life!  Think about the positive! Be thankful, be grateful and feel lucky to have what you have. 

Take a moment this year and try to pick a day or even an hour and do what you feel is "right" to celebrate whatever it is that you'd like.  Enjoy Christmas, Kwanzaa, or Hanukkah; if you aren't a holiday person then enjoy the snow, the music and decorations from afar. 

It's so easy to get the Winter Blues.  All of your favorite shows on television go on their mid-season finales, it's cold, etc. Try to turn one negative thought each day into a positive.  On your long ride home from work after a stressful day, enjoy the Christmas lights; when stuck in traffic after traveling all day to visit family and friends, be happy you have your family and friends there with you to celebrate with; when you are tired from cooking and cleaning all day to host a party, be thankful that you had a packed house of loved ones enjoying themselves and were there for you! The holidays are what you make of them!

My day of relaxing is coming soon.  I like to take a day to give myself the gift of true relaxation.  Then I order out Chinese Food, watch cheesy Christmas Movies and have Hot Cocoa for dessert before driving around to look at Christmas Lights in town. 

Happy Holidays! Make them happy the best way you know how!