Holidays can be a wonderful or awful time. It all depends on how your family, culture and traditions were viewed and experienced. During this holiday season, you have an opportunity to create a new set of rituals or traditions that enhance your joy of the season. Are you able to be with family during this holiday time? What is it like for you to be with your family? Do you feel alone during the holidays? What is missing for you? What would help make this a special and happy time? Take a moment to reflect upon your best or worst holiday memories or rituals you retain from from Thanksgiving, Hanukkah and/or Christmas. Holiday time may be a time of loss, sadness, or unpleasant times due to family conflict, disappointment and unfulfilled expectations. On the other hand, holiday time may have been your best childhood memories. The challenge at this holiday time may be to create your own positive rituals that represent happiness, joy, or fun and pass along some new memories to your family or current life circumstances. In an article some years ago I wrote a brief article on Beating the Holiday Blues. The core concept was as follows: “The preparation for the holiday IS the holiday.” Break free of trying to make everything perfect for this holiday season. Work to reduce stress, relax to enjoy this holiday time by incorporating friends, traditions and activities that will make this holiday full of cheer for you. Make this holiday a time to enjoy and remember.
