Stressful Holidays
It is fairly
common to have stress during the holiday season. However, it is not common for
me to feel any stress during the holidays. I am the type of person that lives for
Christmas. I usually buy Christmas presents for my friends and family all year
long. Not this year. I have been so consumed with publishing my book that I
have not had time to even think about Christmas. (For those of you who are
waiting to buy my book, it will be available for purchase in early 2015.) I
have no gifts for anyone to open. I am so far behind. I am not ready for
Christmas, emotionally or otherwise. This is not like me.
I am usually
more prepared for Christmas. I am always ready with my Christmas cards. I
collect Christmas cards. Usually in July I go through all of my Christmas cards
and pick which ones I want to mail out. Then, in November, I write a
personalized greeting on the inside of the card. When I leave my home for the
Thanksgiving holiday, I put my Christmas cards out to be mailed. Every year I
use two sets of Christmas cards. I send one set out to family and friends, and
I use a second set for my co-workers. It is a shame that Christmas is only once
a year; I have so many gorgeous Christmas cards.
I had some trouble getting my cards done this year. Truth be told, I had a hard time getting anything done for Christmas this year. I did get the cards out to be mailed on Thanksgiving. But that is all I have done to date.
I had some trouble getting my cards done this year. Truth be told, I had a hard time getting anything done for Christmas this year. I did get the cards out to be mailed on Thanksgiving. But that is all I have done to date.
I was even late
in getting my Christmas tree put up. I normally put it up on Halloween. Now, I
know that is exceedingly early to put up a Christmas tree. However, my cats,
Jazz and Blues, have already destroyed one Christmas tree by climbing in it. I
find that, if I put the tree up early, they have more time to see it, sniff it,
and get used to it being there without attacking it and climbing the tree.
I was even at
the point where Christmas music filled me with stress. A couple of weeks ago,
before I had made out my Christmas cards, I listened to Christmas music in the
car. I listened to my favorite secular Christmas songs….
-War is Over (John Lennon and Yoko Ono)
-Wonderful Christmastime (Paul McCartney)
-Last Christmas (George Michael)
-The Happy Elf (Harry Connick Jr.)
…as well as some
newer classics….
-Something in the Air (Grayson Sanders, Lauriana Mae, Jonathan O’Neal)
-Winter Wonderland/Let It Snow (The Piano Guys)
-It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year (Pentatonix)
After that, I
was listening to other Christmas songs in my playlist. After a while, I could
not do it. Listening to the Christmas songs made me feel considerable stress. I
could not listen to it anymore. I had to listen to other music.
Now that the
Thanksgiving holiday has passed, I do feel a little bit better about Christmas.
I do not feel stressed as I used to. Of course now that it is past Thanksgiving
it is the season to play Christmas music at my workplace. I love listening to
music in what is normally a shrine of quietude. I am finally at the place where
Christmas music does not bother me. Yet,
I find I cannot listen to Christmas music in my car. I listen to anything else. I think that, if I did listen to Christmas music in my car, it would be too much. It would be a Christmas overload.
I find I cannot listen to Christmas music in my car. I listen to anything else. I think that, if I did listen to Christmas music in my car, it would be too much. It would be a Christmas overload.
While holidays
can be full of stress, some of that is self-imposed. I was feeling stressed for
not accomplishing everything
I wanted to accomplish this year. But everything will come in its time. Having anxiety about that is not going to help the situation. Stressing yourself out about the holidays is not helpful. We all need to relax and decompress and not worry about it. The holidays are going to happen whether we are prepared for it or not.
I wanted to accomplish this year. But everything will come in its time. Having anxiety about that is not going to help the situation. Stressing yourself out about the holidays is not helpful. We all need to relax and decompress and not worry about it. The holidays are going to happen whether we are prepared for it or not.
The holiday
season is not about Christmas cards, presents, trees or the music. It is about
taking time to gather with loved ones, to take a moment and reflect on all that
we have, to be thankful for all we have been given. Those are the holidays
I am looking forward to.
I am looking forward to.
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