Holiday Survival Recipe

OK, let’s face it - we can all have a love/hate relationship with this time of year – chestnuts roasting on an open fire, aside.  On one hand, we are flooded with the Hallmark greeting card warm-and-fuzzies, reminiscing of holidays past, and on the other, we are met with the buzz kill of all the logistical realities – the shopping, the cooking, the commitments…as the too-much-to-do-in-too-little-time panic, defiantly saunters in.  Designing a successful season takes some serious strategic planning (and self-preservation) – a real sit down with yourself at the boardroom table.  You know what’s about to go down, so no excuses, no blaming, let’s roll this thing out to your own liking before the anxiety overwhelms you.I don’t know how it manages to creep up on me each year despite the big box stores breaking out the warning signs of decorations and piping in the Christmas music as soon as humanly possible.   When I smell the first sign of the holidays, I typically run away in denial.The really cool part of this season, with all of its celebration and fanfare, is that it’s a metaphoric opportunity to hit “reset”.  When you glance within your energetic pantry, taking stock – do you notice any expiration dates that are past their prime?  Anything a little stale?  Any excess baggage no longer needed?  Time for a little winter “spring-cleaning?”  The topic of housekeeping may feel like a repetitive theme within our lives, but while it can be a pesky task, it is often met with the reward of a refreshing, clear space for something else to enter.The holidays mark the end of one thing – a season, a year - and the beginning of a new one, fresh and full of possibility.   I lost people this year – people pulled from life too soon.  Their absence stands as a constant reminder to stay present and to squeeze joy out of every day, even during the harried holiday seasons.  Find a way to make peace with it and be present and have fun, even if you are searching for tree-stand hidden in the attic.Are the holidays and sanity mutually exclusive?  Can they co-exist?  I think there is a way, but it requires a little thinking out of the box, a break from convention.  They are not only about tradition, they are about routine and many of us become homing pigeons, both literally and figuratively, as we believe we have a role to play with the childhood home set as a dominant stage.  Have you ever noticed that family dynamics have a tendency to play out like a scene from the film Groundhog Day – everyone stepping in line as if set on repeat, rewind, play it again Sam?So how do we consciously navigate through it all?  Well, not going home and abandoning the whole darn thing would be one way.  I’ll take a ticket to Bali, please.  But who are we kidding, I’d just be missing everyone back home - my white Christmas, issues and all.  The reality is that the holidays for many are steeped in ritual, if not with family, than with friends – who are the family we choose.Regardless of who, what, where and when – how do we stay sane through it all?  Do we fall prey to the chaos of eating, drinking and over-spending, or can we strike a balance?When we wait too long to express ourselves we often feel resentment and thus convey our needs inappropriately in frustration.  So why not start from the beginning and dare to break from tradition a tad, to declare what we need and save ourselves from the angst.So what drives you crazy about the season (or your own behavior) as you fall prey to the festivities?Create a list of 5 self-care intentions that would help you navigate the holidays fortified and even-keeled.   Make some healthy declarations on behalf of your own mental sanity.   Here’s my Survival Recipe: -I need some private time each day – to write, to read, to meditate.  Carving out “own-time” – allows us to be more available with others.-I need to move my body – to exercise, to commune with nature.  Anyone up for a walk?-I need to be mindful of my eating and drinking - delighting in some holiday treats, yet not over-indulging to the point of excess. (or Advil)-I need to remind myself of the gift of the present moment – to be here now, to look around and take stock with gratitude.   To not get lost in my to-do list of next week.-I need to sleep.  ZZZZZzzzzzz It’s not that deep people.  Don’t get stuck in the way things have always been done, unless of course that’s working for you.What’s your holiday Achilles heel?What unleashes your inner cranky?Any holiday hiccup patterns you are ready to uncover?Write out your 5 promises to self.  Start by asking yourself, “what do you need?” Let’s get out ahead of this thing and design it to our liking.