As long as we know in our hearts what Christmas ought to be, Christmas is.
Eric Sevareid
R and R Tip #27: Realize the true meaning of the holidays
According to a Greek legend, in ancient Athens a man noticed the great storyteller Aesop playing childish games with some little boys. He laughed and jeered at Aesop, asking him why he wasted his time in such frivolous activity.
Aesop responded by picking up a bow, loosening its string, and placing it on the ground. Then he said to the critical Athenian, Now, answer the riddle, if you can. Tell us what the unstrung bows implies.
The man looked at it for several moments but had no idea what point Aesop was trying to make. Aesop explained, If you keep a bow always bent, it will break eventually; but if you let it go slack, it will be more fit for use when you want it.
People are also like that. That's why we all need to take time to rest.
Before December's madness hits its peak, do some soul-searching on what the holidays really mean to you. In the midst of all the preparations, sometimes we get tangled up in Christmas lights and unrealistic expectations, We often take on too much, then feel anxious and stressed out when reality doesn’t measure up to the flawless fantasy in our heads.
Life, after all, is full of hills and valleys. It’s like we’re each in our own car, travelling through. We don’t stay in the valleys forever…though some people tend to stop their cars and stay in the valleys longer than they should (that’s called giving up and wallowing). Life is up and down. When you’re down, have faith that the up will be coming soon. Start your car and get moving.
When I feel like panicking over holiday stress, whatever its cause,
I’m going to eat chocolate
I’m going to remember my priorities this holiday season
I’m going to fill my mind with good things
All is Calm -- All is Bright
Nothing makes you feel merry and bright faster than seasonal songs, from Winter Wonderland to Silent Night, and with good reason: Research shows that listening to music can crank down stress hormones, lower blood pressure and heart rate, and kick your anxiety to the curb.
Curling up with a good book can be the ultimate winter luxury, but if you don’t have time for an extended tête-à-tête with a novel, try something short and sweet, like a few poems a day, or a couple of pages of Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol. A break from the hubbub re-energizes and refocuses you, making you able to avoid holiday stress
Decide on one word that describes the holiday season you want to have this year; it could be Peace, Joy, Love, Family or Serenity. Write it on an index card and tape it to your bathroom mirror. When things get hectic, a glance at your guiding word will remind you of what you really want
Remember that the holidays are special for a reason. Find that reason in your life, and build around it. Honor old traditions, make new ones, and throw out all the things that just don't work for you
Relax, Refresh, Re-organize your thoughts and have a wonderful Holiday Season!
See you all next Sunday!
Love, Live, Laugh and Be Happy!
ma
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