The Holidays Are Approaching...

Tips On Preventing Stress NOW

The phrase ‘holiday stress’ has become as much a part of winter festivities as egg nog and fruit cake. There are articles about it, pills for it and, it seems, little way to escape it. Between mad dashes to the mall and the anxious money spending, the most sacred holidays in American culture have not only been secularized-they have been debased. If you would rather spend your holiday basking in gratitude and good cheer, there are three things you should do.

Shop Early
Since we have begun to associate holiday preparation with stress, we tend to avoid the ‘Things To Do’ list until the last minute. This is a bad idea. When department stores start putting out ornaments and porcelain turkeys in August, it is not because they are trying to force people into an early holiday. It’s because they know that smart shoppers get their stuff at least a month ahead- and spend the rest of winter at home roasting chestnuts on an open fire.

Take Shortcuts
The picture in your head is tantalizing. A golden, juicy turkey surrounded by plump grapes and sprigs of holly. Made-from-scratch cranberry sauce trembling with sweetness. Handmade marzipan sculptures of Santa Claus...

This is the meal everybody wants to serve their family at Thanksgiving. Every year, you are determined to out-bake Martha Stewart herself. Picturing yourself staring down your in-laws with perfect holiday ham on your table, you hit the supermarket with a mile-long list of seventeen ingredients for each dish and find yourself stuck in line with two carts full of over-priced food.

This is why people get into fist-fights in the supermarket parking lot.

Take whatever shortcuts necessary for your budget and your sanity. Get your turkey already cooked. Have your guests bring their own dish. Make all your vegetables from the can. If cooking for your family is keeping you from your family then what’s the point?

Keep It All In Perspective

2,000 years ago, a young girl from an oppressed nation gave birth to a baby boy in the middle of the desert. He was lowly, humble and covered in amniotic fluid, but this child would grow up and change the world.

Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah or Kwanzaa, whether you believe in God or not, you have to admit: it’s a heartwarming story. From Squanto and the Pilgrims to umoja, the parts that make up our holiday celebrations are meant to inspire us. The point is not for you to gloat over all the nice things you get or to make people jealous about your decorations. Every tradition we have comes from someplace special and has a deeper meaning.

We are meant to say “On this day, long ago, someone was delivered from bondage” or “Life is good and I am grateful.” These moments should be deeper than your wallet. They should mean more than just stuff. The Christmas Story, after all, is not about the gold, frankincense and myrrh: it’s about a newborn baby whose life would impact billions.

It is nice for your family and friends to send you best wishes, but it's up to you to have a happy holiday. Take shortcuts, get the shopping out of the way, stay focused on what's important and your celebrations will be warm and fuzzy.

by Stephanie Moore

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