More Christmas Cheer - Gifts & Relatives

The torture of the holidays is upon us once again. I am always of mixed emotions. I love the holidays and they drive me crazy. I think they call that schizophrenia. I don’t think I am alone in these mixed feelings that may require more than breathing techniques or the cocktail hour to begin at three in the afte
oon (its five o’clock somewhere…)

For me the problem really lay in the weeks before Christmas Day - the packages in the mail. I don’t know about you but I have some relatives that enjoy engaging in “passive aggressive nuts.” I like to think of the package arrivals as bombs waiting to explode gross into my house.

I haven’t figured out what to do with them yet…Every year I have a new tactic - open, not to open, give to goodwill, etc. There are a few things we can not do – open them with our kids, because unfortunately, these relatives play favorites and one of my children is always receiving “less-than.” To say that this makes me crazy is - an understatement. One year we made this mistake and to watch the excluded child to see all the presents but one book go to the other was heartbreaking.

And of course these bombs of Christmas cheer trigger all kinds of old hurts and unmet desires of Christmases past. Good times. Thanks a bunch…can’t wait ‘til next year. So, what to do?

I think all you can do – take care of yourself. Instead of focusing on all those other people in your life, stop and focus on yourself. Close your eyes. Are you spinning? Feel the ground under your feet. What do you need today? What can you do today to directly support yourself during this holiday season?

Ideas: buy yourself a special Christmas gift, take a bubble bath, meditation, read a favorite magazine, call a friend, make cookies, volunteer, go for a walk at night and see all the lights. What’s your great idea?

Personally I am going to spend the afte
oon wrapping gifts for my kids and husband. It always makes me happy to wrap presents and make pretty bows. I even think Mrs. Claus dropped off something special for me too…I think a big, sparkling bow will go on that one.