The Best Holiday Gift Ever

Where did Thanksgiving go, and why are there twinkle lights in my neighbor’s bushes and inflatable snowmen in her front yard? With all my focus on ZOOMA Atlanta over the past couple months, the holidays have crept up on me like never before. Which causes me to stress out a little.

My sister and I have been trying to coordinate Christmas Eve and Christmas day family visits. We have about 48 hours to squeeze in visits with three different family branches, between the two of us. Not to mention sleep, travel time, and a break to breathe. Then there are the presents! There are, admittedly, some amazing recession-sales out there, but still it’s a difficult task to find the perfect gift for eight family members. And the holiday cards. And the holiday parties. Oh… the holidays!

And I’m sure many of you are struggling with even more distractions than I am. So, I’m proposing a new strategy. I’m going to give myself the best holiday gift ever.

The holidays are supposed to be about enjoying friends and family. They are about reflecting on the good things in our lives, and giving gifts to others because we love them and want them to feel happy and appreciated. I think that we all have one major problem when it comes to the holidays – we try to do too much. The holidays can really only be enjoyed if we are relaxed, de-stressed, and feel prepared and organized. How can we enjoy our friends and family members if we are stressed out with trying to see them all and with buying the perfect gifts?

The best gift we can give ourselves is to know our limits, and work within our own parameters. I refuse to sacrifice myself for the sake of a “perfect holiday.” Instead, I’m going to drastically take control of my holiday this year. I might schedule a massage for myself. Make time for yoga and running with friends. Focus on the small things. Scale back on the gifts if the effort is stretching me thin. Give myself permission to decline a holiday party invitation if I’d rather stay home and watch “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Pace myself. This holiday season, I'm going to treat myself.

I'm taking back this holiday... and creating a happy, relaxing, joyful and soulful few weeks. And, from the bottom of my heart, I wish you all the same!

Brae