“It’s the most wonderful time….. of the yearrrrrrr”… if you
want it to be. But it seems like not many people I’ve encountered the past few
weeks are in the Christmas spirit. I’ve seen lots of frowny faces all over
town. Bah humbug if you want, but keep that shit to yourself. I get that there
are a lot of reasons to be sad this time of year; no family to spend the
Holidays with, having to work with the public (God bless you), or being broke
and having the thought of buying gifts lingering over your hear. But those are
things that we mostly do not have a lot of control over. You know what you do
have control over? Your attitude. Happiness during the Holidays starts with
you. Yes you!
Travelling and Christmas shopping are both super
overwhelming, but if you don’t have a good attitude then they are downright
miserable. Every Holiday, I drive 2.5 hours east to spend time with my parents
and grandparents. That is exactly 2.5 hours more than I like being in a car,
but it is part of the game. I try and put on fun music, or I stop at Starbucks
and treat myself to a coffee and a sweet. There are terrible, cranky drivers
out there so take your time, and remember to pay attention. Christmas shopping
is a nightmare if you go in with a nasty attitude. The store clerks are
over-worked and exhausted, and the customers are even worse. I try to pump
myself up for these trips to the mall. I go ahead and find a parking spot in
the back, because fighting for one up front will immediately get that heart
rate up. I try and part outside the shoe department of my favorite department
store, just so I can immediately walk into some happiness. Take your time, and
try and keep a smile on your face. It really works! Remember, no gift is worth
arguing or sneering at a complete stranger. Ask the cashier how their day is
going, and be patient with the long lines. They aren’t going to get any shorter
just because you are huffing and puffing. If you absolutely cannot handle being
a nice person during a shopping trip, then stay home and order your gifts
online. Like I said before, keep that bah humbug shit to yourself.
Time with family can be stressful as well. Try and remember
that the silly things your family does is what makes them unique. My Mother has
her little quirks that drive my brother and me bonkers, but instead of losing
our minds over it, we give each other a quick side eye when she’s not looking
and then joke about it with a cocktail later. Every year for the past 30 years we
have done the exact same thing for Thanksgiving and Christmas, and every single
year around August my mother starts asking my brother and me what our plans
are. Our plans never change, and it drives us crazy to get these emails. But
she is a planner, and that is just what she does. She is not going to change. I
suspect that one day when we are married with families of our own, we will have
different plans. But for now, we drive home and shuttle around visiting friends
and family!
Need a few extra ideas for stress relief? Treat yourself to
a pedicure after a long day of shopping. Your feet deserve a little extra love
and care after pounding the pavement to find the perfect gift! It’s something
to look forward to whilst shopping, and it will truly relax you. Schedule
cocktails with friends or family. It’s another thing to look forward to, and
who doesn’t love a glass of champagne after a long day of
working/shopping/driving. If your budget is tight this Christmas, suggest to
your friends that you would love a night of appetizers and cocktails rather
than gifts. No one needs a new
picture frame or candle, but I’m sure we could all stand to spend some quality
time with friends. Laughing is the best stress reliever of all! Also, sometimes
it helps to have a conversation with family before the Holidays and decide a
budget for gifts. We decided to trade stockings this year instead of trying to
figure out expensive gifts. I’m excited to give each member of my family a bag
full of little treats and happies. We are all adults, and anything we want or
need, we go buy for ourselves. Maybe decide to swap cookies or ornaments with
friends and extended family instead of gifts. Remember that giving gifts is
supposed to be fun. Don’t give them out of obligation. If you truly cannot
think of the perfect gift, then give edibles! Who doesn’t love homemade cookies
and a bottle of delicious (insert your
favorite libation here)?!
The Holidays don’t have to be stressful or expensive. If you
find that they are getting that way, then take a step back and think about how
you can de-clutter the next few weeks. If you need a night to stay home by
yourself and watch Roman Holiday and eat popcorn, then do it. Your friends and
family will understand, because they want to see the happy, rested you! I think
you’ll find that minding your manners will help to keep you in the best mood
possible. Smile at strangers, hold doors, be nice to store clerks, and be
patient! Good luck out there, and remember to have fun! If there is a reason to your season, then remember that as well. Happy Holidays y’all!
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