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3 Ways to Bring Back the Joy to the Holidays
By karen | November 23, 2007
I love the holidays, I really do. I enjoy the decorations and the music and I love the shopping “online”. But I have a confession to make.
I have never participated in the shopping frenzy they call Black Friday. Never have, never will. The massive crowds are a huge deterrent for me, bargains or not! I would rather spend the Friday after Thanksgiving as a quiet, reflective day and I have often spent the day decorating the house. Since our decorations went up last Saturday on my daughters birthday, I plan to just relax and enjoy. I may do some shopping online. Or I may just count my books, that will be fun!
For many people the Holiday Season has become the most hectic time of the year. Chaos and turmoil mark the days and many look forward to the respite that January will bring. But aren’t the holidays supposed to be “the most wonderful time of the year”? To that end I have put together a few thoughts on the holidays, just 3 simple steps to bringing the joy back to the Season.
It has been said that the average American will gain 7 pounds during the holidays. We all know that there is plenty of food around during the holidays but all of that food will not feed your soul. And too often we get caught up in the frenzy and chaos and we forget or neglect the things that truly do feel good to us. So during this holiday season make an effort to remember yourself and honor your soul. Do the things that bring you joy, peace and happiness. Meditations, Gratitude rituals, Yoga and exercise, spending quiet time with loved ones, even reading books or doing enjoyable crafts can feed your soul. Don’t neglect yourself this holiday season.
For many of us the holidays bring so many obligations and things we feel we must do that it can’t help but create turmoil. So here is a thought. Look closely at every obligation and see if it would be possible to “opt-out”. You don’t have to do everything. Some things are not really worth the energy they take. So give them up. Opt-out.
That is a nice thought but I think we all realize that it won’t work for everything. Some things would cause too much external conflict or even inner turmoil if you were to “opt-out”. For those things, the best thing you can do is to “opt-in”. Yes, you’re going to have to do it anyway so make the best of it. Find the positive aspects, remind yourself of the good things about it, if you have to imagine good things about it then do it. Maybe a good thing about it is that it will be over soon! Do whatever you have to do but feel good about it. You’ll feel happier and more joyful if you do.
Be it Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or even just the Winter Solstice, the original meaning of the holidays is about Peace, Love, Joy, Goodwill toward Men, Renewal, all wonderful things. Perhaps this time has become over-commercialized in the real world but you create your own life, You create your own Holidays. You can create the Season in the image you wish.
Happy Holidays!
My friend, Priscilla Palmer tagged me for a couple of memes, one of which was the
Lists–Group writing project
from
Litemind.com.
Since this post is a list I think it may qualify for that portion of the tag.
Now for the other request……
Popularity: 4% [?]
Topics: Personal Development, Living the Power, Deliberate Creation, Real Life |
November 23rd, 2007 at 10:15 am
Thanks for the tips!
The holidays are supposed to be a wonderful time, and they can be! If you think ahead with an eye to those three reasons, and remember to just enjoy the moment during the holidays you’ll find yourself much happier than if you stress and obsess about getting to one specific point.
November 23rd, 2007 at 10:23 am
Thanks John.
I think that we all need to remember that we create our lives—and that includes our experience of the holidays!
I appreciate you reading and commenting! Thank you!
November 23rd, 2007 at 9:32 pm
We’ve always had low-key holiday seasons, and I’m thankful for that. My daughter still has warm memories about our Christmases.
November 23rd, 2007 at 9:40 pm
At my house we are still creating those Christmas memories as my 3 youngest children are still very young….
Santa reigns supreme at my house this Season. It is rather nice because everyone knows that Santa does not come to a messy house and the toys, books etc are being picked up and put away.
November 27th, 2007 at 8:16 am
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November 27th, 2007 at 9:06 am
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November 28th, 2007 at 9:12 am
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November 28th, 2007 at 10:57 am
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November 28th, 2007 at 7:22 pm
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December 1st, 2007 at 2:11 am
Hi Karen,
This is a very timely and apt article. Indeed, it’s such an irony that the holidays season turn out to be a stressful time for some people.
It should be enjoyable, fun, relaxing and a good time for getting together with friends for the good old times.
Thanks for these tips and reminder.
December 1st, 2007 at 9:50 am
Thanks Lawrence
I believe that the holidays should be an enjoyable and fun time but all too often we get caught up in the chaos
December 2nd, 2007 at 4:37 am
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December 2nd, 2007 at 8:06 am
[…] 3 Ways to Bring Back the Joy to the Holidays by Karen Lynch […]
December 2nd, 2007 at 10:02 am
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December 2nd, 2007 at 11:36 am
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December 2nd, 2007 at 9:02 pm
Thanks for the wonderful reminder.
December 2nd, 2007 at 9:12 pm
My pleasure.
thanks for stopping by and for your comment!
December 3rd, 2007 at 10:56 am
[…] 3 Ways to Bring Back the Joy to the Holidays by Karen Lynch […]
December 16th, 2007 at 12:11 pm
[…] 3 Ways to Bring Back the Joy to the Holidays by Karen Lynch - I believe items #1 and #2 to be more inspiring than the final one. The former could prompt you to write something like “How to Feed Your Soul in Ten Steps.” The latter could you make you write an article about the opt-in and opt-out concepts. Or maybe two articles. Or even a whole series, who knows? […]
December 22nd, 2007 at 10:25 pm
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