Monday, November 13, 2006
Tips for staying balanced through the holidays
Mike: Renew daily prayer, beginning in the morning when you wake and at least twice more during the day: Count your blessing and give thanks for them; Ask for peace in you life and understanding of others; Ask to be a better person.
Donna: When things start pliling up, I start making a list. If I'm really wound tight I do my favorite Yoga tape: "Yoga for Weight Loss" by Living Arts; I call a family member and vent; I pray; Instead of putting something off that I don't like to do, I do it; Curl up on the couch and watch TV or read a good book to escape.
Betty: Not get caught up in the "rush of the holidays" and to keep the focus on simplicity, fun, getting together with family and friends. Another tip that really works for me is to do things around the house like clean a closet, reorganize drawers...or make some crafts for the house and/or for gifts!
Glenn: 1. Drive with Aloha: no horn honking, no gesturing, see how many people I can let in the line (instead of how many I can keep out).
2. Eat healty before going to parties
3. Cheat grief out of its surprise: plan a remembrance activity related to recent (or not so recenet) losses, allowing for tears or joy, whatever comes up. A scrapbook, a favorite movie, event, book, or song, a favoite place you haven't visited since... Do this alone with your box of tissues or with a trusted friend who understands your loss and can appreciate your tear or any morbid humor that can come up.
4. Control your pace. Choose how many parties you want to go to; stay in control of you schedule. A friend announced one year before Thanksgiving, "I'm going to two holiday parties this year; if you want me at yours, get your invitation in early!"
5. Put a song in your heart (and keep some music in your car for those traffic jams and when you've heard Pata-pata-pam for the forty-eleventh time).
6. Find some light for your darkness. Christmas doesn't wait for you or the work to be ready, it just comes when it comes. Perhaps that's the message of Christmas, that this world has plnty of darkenss including yours; you might as well let it be interrupted with whatever light comes your way.
7. Plan to take time for one major experience of enjoyment; the Nutcracker, the Messiah, seeing the best lights or store window displays, etc.
8. Give something to someone who doesn't expect it. You'll enjoy it as much as they do.
Patty: Shop before the crazy Thanksgiving weekend to be sure you get the items you want. Then if it's on sale later, just take your receipt to customer service and get credit for the difference (and shop where they will do this!).
Lise: Go into the bathroom, lock the door, and take a bubble bath!
Angie: During the holidays, my motto is to "Let it go!" Expecially with traveling during this time, everyone is usually in such a hurried and rush mood. People probably are doing things they dont even realize, such as taking the parking space you wanted, bumping into you at stores, etc. Instead of fighting back with your own attitude, just let it go. You smile instead of frown and maybe they'll pass that long to someone else when it happens to them.
Jon: Here's a tip that always helps me: Just pretend the Holidays don't exist!
Annie: My best tip is to SHOP EARLY. Actually the week before Thanksgiving is the best shopping time as the stores are brimming with stuff. Also, I always get what's on the kid's sich list and do not deviate. This has backfired in the past so I stick to their list and they are happy!
Joe: TIP#1, Remember THE day is Jesus' Birthday, and if we celebrate his birthday, there will be NO stress.
Gina: Always take time to pray!
Sally: Be prepared for some plans not to work out; don't take setbacks seriously, and be willing to go for pland B or C or D!
Anne: Remember those credit card bills, Santa!
DJ: 1. Keep your perspective-remember what Christmas is all about: good will toward men (and women).
Ashley: Helpful hints for the Holidays from Great American Quilt Factory
1. Breathe deep--it will all be over in a few weeks.
2. The Honey Baked Ham store is still aceepting orders for Christmas Eve/Day hams and turkeys. Its ok to lie and say you made it.
3. Costco has a wonderful selection of already-finished baked goods. The same lie applies here.
4. Aveda stores (Park Meadows, Flat Irons, etc.) are offering free hand massages--go get one.
5. When in doubt remember that the holidays are all about the spirit--look around at all the wonderful blessing you have, and be thankful for what ever it is that you DO have.
Sharon:
1. Prioritize: This tip Sheet getting to you now, with the Holidays half gone, is a prime example of that. I have had and aunt in the hospital, my Dad is sick at home, I got the flu twice, etc. So this had to wait. Same with Chistmas shopping, putting up christmas tree and lights, etc.
2. Pace yourself. When you're tired, rest, at least for a few minutes. Take breaks, vary your pace and the type of thing you're doing.
3. Take care of yourself. Feed yourself well, healty food at regular intervals, now more than ever. Stick with (or start a new) exercise regimen that includes cardio and strenght training of various kinds. Take that bubble bath, do that quiet meditation.
4. Tune in. Pay attenting to signals about your own balance, and DO something before you crash! Pay attention to what has worked and NOT worked for you in the past holidays, and to what you want out of the holidays, What will matter in five or ten years? If it won't matter, then it doesn't matter now either.
5. Tune up: Be willing to make some changes, to do things differently. As the saying goes, "If you do what you've always done, you'll get what you've always gotton." And small changes can have big effects. What one, small thing can you approach differently that might make a big difference for you?
6. Take off: Just do it, as Nike syas. Do what light your fire. Wo what you (and your family) will remember five year from now, or what you will regret five years form now if you don't do it.
7. Tune Out! TUNE OUT the inner voice (yes, that one) that tells you that you're inadequate, inferior, defective, or whatever favorite way it has it has of trying to make you feel bad because you have not had a year full of mistake-free living, and nothing but outstanding success in whatever you have done during the past year. Maybe you have not reached your goals. Maybe you have failed in important areas in your life. Maybe your year has been full of SIGNIFICANT LEARNING EXPERIENCES (a.k.a., setbacks, losses, failures, dead-ends, etc. We can turn adversity into advantage by approaching life artfully. This includes accepting the scraps that life sometimes sends-not avoiding them, but learning how to use them to make something useful, and yes, even beautiful out of them, even if it was not the thing we initially imagined.
Remember what Norman Vincent Peale said: "That the only people who don't have problem are those in the cemetary. REFUSE to accept harbor blame, shame regret or any kind bad feeling about that has happened this past year. Allow these bad felling sto flow THROUGH you (like waves in the sea) and OUT again. Take responsibility, whish is the ABILITY TO RESPOND; and take it only for those things which you can do something about. Then make plans for the new year and focus on where you want to be and how you will get there. Visualize the results you wnat and GO FOR IT!"
8. Balance is just that. It is not perfection, which, like objectivity, does not exist. It is a dynamic, moving process that we attend to every moment of your lives. It inlcudes all aspects of staying balanced through the holidays, and through life means including all these areas in our considerations, and living our lives with integirity-by our own values, and accoridng to who we really are, deep inside.
9. Have fun! Here's some Monkey Magic for you. Remember the Three Monkeys we learned about as kids? See no evil, Hear no evil, Speak no evil? Now that we're all grown up we need a new set of monkeys:
See what you (really) see
Hear what you (really) hear
Feel what you feel
Think your own thoughts
Say what you need to say
Do what you need to do
Be who you really are
Donna: When things start pliling up, I start making a list. If I'm really wound tight I do my favorite Yoga tape: "Yoga for Weight Loss" by Living Arts; I call a family member and vent; I pray; Instead of putting something off that I don't like to do, I do it; Curl up on the couch and watch TV or read a good book to escape.
Betty: Not get caught up in the "rush of the holidays" and to keep the focus on simplicity, fun, getting together with family and friends. Another tip that really works for me is to do things around the house like clean a closet, reorganize drawers...or make some crafts for the house and/or for gifts!
Glenn: 1. Drive with Aloha: no horn honking, no gesturing, see how many people I can let in the line (instead of how many I can keep out).
2. Eat healty before going to parties
3. Cheat grief out of its surprise: plan a remembrance activity related to recent (or not so recenet) losses, allowing for tears or joy, whatever comes up. A scrapbook, a favorite movie, event, book, or song, a favoite place you haven't visited since... Do this alone with your box of tissues or with a trusted friend who understands your loss and can appreciate your tear or any morbid humor that can come up.
4. Control your pace. Choose how many parties you want to go to; stay in control of you schedule. A friend announced one year before Thanksgiving, "I'm going to two holiday parties this year; if you want me at yours, get your invitation in early!"
5. Put a song in your heart (and keep some music in your car for those traffic jams and when you've heard Pata-pata-pam for the forty-eleventh time).
6. Find some light for your darkness. Christmas doesn't wait for you or the work to be ready, it just comes when it comes. Perhaps that's the message of Christmas, that this world has plnty of darkenss including yours; you might as well let it be interrupted with whatever light comes your way.
7. Plan to take time for one major experience of enjoyment; the Nutcracker, the Messiah, seeing the best lights or store window displays, etc.
8. Give something to someone who doesn't expect it. You'll enjoy it as much as they do.
Patty: Shop before the crazy Thanksgiving weekend to be sure you get the items you want. Then if it's on sale later, just take your receipt to customer service and get credit for the difference (and shop where they will do this!).
Lise: Go into the bathroom, lock the door, and take a bubble bath!
Angie: During the holidays, my motto is to "Let it go!" Expecially with traveling during this time, everyone is usually in such a hurried and rush mood. People probably are doing things they dont even realize, such as taking the parking space you wanted, bumping into you at stores, etc. Instead of fighting back with your own attitude, just let it go. You smile instead of frown and maybe they'll pass that long to someone else when it happens to them.
Jon: Here's a tip that always helps me: Just pretend the Holidays don't exist!
Annie: My best tip is to SHOP EARLY. Actually the week before Thanksgiving is the best shopping time as the stores are brimming with stuff. Also, I always get what's on the kid's sich list and do not deviate. This has backfired in the past so I stick to their list and they are happy!
Joe: TIP#1, Remember THE day is Jesus' Birthday, and if we celebrate his birthday, there will be NO stress.
Gina: Always take time to pray!
Sally: Be prepared for some plans not to work out; don't take setbacks seriously, and be willing to go for pland B or C or D!
Anne: Remember those credit card bills, Santa!
DJ: 1. Keep your perspective-remember what Christmas is all about: good will toward men (and women).
Ashley: Helpful hints for the Holidays from Great American Quilt Factory
1. Breathe deep--it will all be over in a few weeks.
2. The Honey Baked Ham store is still aceepting orders for Christmas Eve/Day hams and turkeys. Its ok to lie and say you made it.
3. Costco has a wonderful selection of already-finished baked goods. The same lie applies here.
4. Aveda stores (Park Meadows, Flat Irons, etc.) are offering free hand massages--go get one.
5. When in doubt remember that the holidays are all about the spirit--look around at all the wonderful blessing you have, and be thankful for what ever it is that you DO have.
Sharon:
1. Prioritize: This tip Sheet getting to you now, with the Holidays half gone, is a prime example of that. I have had and aunt in the hospital, my Dad is sick at home, I got the flu twice, etc. So this had to wait. Same with Chistmas shopping, putting up christmas tree and lights, etc.
2. Pace yourself. When you're tired, rest, at least for a few minutes. Take breaks, vary your pace and the type of thing you're doing.
3. Take care of yourself. Feed yourself well, healty food at regular intervals, now more than ever. Stick with (or start a new) exercise regimen that includes cardio and strenght training of various kinds. Take that bubble bath, do that quiet meditation.
4. Tune in. Pay attenting to signals about your own balance, and DO something before you crash! Pay attention to what has worked and NOT worked for you in the past holidays, and to what you want out of the holidays, What will matter in five or ten years? If it won't matter, then it doesn't matter now either.
5. Tune up: Be willing to make some changes, to do things differently. As the saying goes, "If you do what you've always done, you'll get what you've always gotton." And small changes can have big effects. What one, small thing can you approach differently that might make a big difference for you?
6. Take off: Just do it, as Nike syas. Do what light your fire. Wo what you (and your family) will remember five year from now, or what you will regret five years form now if you don't do it.
7. Tune Out! TUNE OUT the inner voice (yes, that one) that tells you that you're inadequate, inferior, defective, or whatever favorite way it has it has of trying to make you feel bad because you have not had a year full of mistake-free living, and nothing but outstanding success in whatever you have done during the past year. Maybe you have not reached your goals. Maybe you have failed in important areas in your life. Maybe your year has been full of SIGNIFICANT LEARNING EXPERIENCES (a.k.a., setbacks, losses, failures, dead-ends, etc. We can turn adversity into advantage by approaching life artfully. This includes accepting the scraps that life sometimes sends-not avoiding them, but learning how to use them to make something useful, and yes, even beautiful out of them, even if it was not the thing we initially imagined.
Remember what Norman Vincent Peale said: "That the only people who don't have problem are those in the cemetary. REFUSE to accept harbor blame, shame regret or any kind bad feeling about that has happened this past year. Allow these bad felling sto flow THROUGH you (like waves in the sea) and OUT again. Take responsibility, whish is the ABILITY TO RESPOND; and take it only for those things which you can do something about. Then make plans for the new year and focus on where you want to be and how you will get there. Visualize the results you wnat and GO FOR IT!"
8. Balance is just that. It is not perfection, which, like objectivity, does not exist. It is a dynamic, moving process that we attend to every moment of your lives. It inlcudes all aspects of staying balanced through the holidays, and through life means including all these areas in our considerations, and living our lives with integirity-by our own values, and accoridng to who we really are, deep inside.
9. Have fun! Here's some Monkey Magic for you. Remember the Three Monkeys we learned about as kids? See no evil, Hear no evil, Speak no evil? Now that we're all grown up we need a new set of monkeys:
See what you (really) see
Hear what you (really) hear
Feel what you feel
Think your own thoughts
Say what you need to say
Do what you need to do
Be who you really are
Thursday, November 09, 2006
Holiday Stress
Holiday Stress Tip Sheet
1. Take care of yourself: get enough sleep, eat healty food at regular intervals, keep up with (or start) an exercise routine, pace yourself. Take time out to relax and allow your soul to catch up with your body.
1. Take care of yourself: get enough sleep, eat healty food at regular intervals, keep up with (or start) an exercise routine, pace yourself. Take time out to relax and allow your soul to catch up with your body.
2. Make choices based on your own values. Know what your priorities are. Give up the shoulds, oughts, have-to's, etc. Let go of the things that aren't important to you, and brace yourself for the flack, if need be. Find ways to honor others without having their (or your own) demands exhaust you.
3. Expect things not to turn out perfectly. The holidays are full of Soul and Soul always brings the Trickster. Welcome - even anticipate - the Trickster; remember that today's screw-ups are often tomarrow's fond memories.
5. Expect some family tensions and conflicts, but don't take them seriously. Practice kindness at home first. Forgive the hurts and wounds that are inevitable in families and friendships. Remember that forgiveness is for you, not for them. Forgiveness releases the hurt (without revenge) so YOU can heal, whether or not the other party acknowledges the need for it.
6. Don't try to do it all yourself. You'll end up resentful and exhausted. Delegate responsibilities, or better yet, let everything choose something to do that's important to them, and let the rest go.
7. Lighten up! Have some fun, and do little things to bring the magic of the holidays into your life, and the lives of those imporant to you. Remember that the holidays are about love, hope, and new beginnings for everyone.
