I wanted to share this picture and it's message with you, especially at this time of the year. During the holiday season so many of us experience an extra dose of stress. If you are anything like me, some of this stress is caused by personal expectations, wishes or desires to please others. It is also caused by the excitement of others as they share what they are planning, buying, doing or receiving. All around are examples of how things should look, smell, taste, sound or feel. I know I find myself getting caught up in all the perceived good things of the season. I want to do it all, yet stress because my money, time, energy, family responsibilities and circumstances do not match what I may dream of or what others are blessed to be able to create or have.
I encourage you to post this picture somewhere in your home as a reminder to relax. (Mine is going to be in my bedroom where I will see it everyday.). Remember you are you, with all your strengths and weaknesses, chances and challenges, and you do not have to be like or have everything someone else may. It is OK to be different. It is OK to choose simplicity. It is OK to not do it all.
Perhaps my sharing some of the choices I am making will help you decide how you can reduce your own stress. These work for me and I trust you will find what works for you.
I wanted to have a nice Christmas tree. I have a variety of ornaments I could choose from (angels, gold or silver ornaments, wooden vintage children's ornaments, M&M characters/lights, or Santa) and find myself stressing every year over which ones to use. Well, shopping at a local store I found some red & gold ribbon I was impressed to buy. In that moment my decision was made. I would go with gold, and keep it simple. The day we decorated the tree, I let the grandchildren do it all. We unboxed the tree, and while I prepared lunch the kids pulled the branches down and "bushed up" the tree. Instead of stringing beads of ivory and gold all around the tree or adding another string of multi-colored lights to the white lights the tree already had, I took the ribbon and zig-sagged it across the front of the tree. Then I opened the box of ornaments and let the grand kids place the gold ornaments where they wanted. Within 1/2 hour the tree was "perfect" according to their standards (even though someone else pointed out to me that there were a few spots with no ornaments and other spots that had two or three together).
I had the idea of stringing some lights around the window. It sounded simple, but the hooks I had purchased were not strong enough to hold the string of lights I had found, so instead of stressing over how to make the lights stay in the window, we chose to simply drape them over the top of the fireplace mantle. The grandkids love it, and it took no more than 3 minutes to do.
While other neighbors have lights around every window and over every bush or lighted displays across their lawns, we will be happy placing two lighted ornaments in our front window, and purchase a set of 10 solar pathway lights. Again, this is something the grandchildren can set up so there is no stress for me other than the purchase and turning on and off the switch each night.
We have a party at my home on Christmas Eve for my family. This year I am choosing a very simple menu. I have a 3 burner buffet set which my son gave me a few years ago. This year instead of making sandwiches or a variety of various vegetable or fruit trays, crackers & cheeses, I am offering a choice of 3 soups (canned, so all I have to do is pour in and heat) and some pre-packaged rolls along with a tray of cookies and a bowl of nuts.
Take a few minutes and see how you can simplify your holiday. Reduce your stress and don't worry about others may think. You are the person most important in your life, and the less stress you have the more joy and happiness you can experience. Please feel free to let me know what you decide. I and others are always looking for new ways to simplify and reduce stress.
