If you celebrate the Christmas holiday, the calendar is a constant reminder that there are only so many shopping days left. Time is running out! The days are flying by! You have gifts to buy. Cookies to bake. A tree to decorate. There are parties to plan and to attend. Christmas happens on the same date every year, but somehow, it’s crept up on you. You’ve lost track of time and now you have to hustle to get everything done! Do you? A 2014 survey from Think Finance reported that forty-five percent of Americans would prefer to skip Christmas. They would rather forget the whole thing! That tells you something about society’s ability to handle holiday stress. We are not thinking about good tidings of comfort and joy. We need new coping mechanisms.
Most of us want to believe that holidays are a joyful time. Seventy-eight percent of us report positive emotions such as happiness and love. We obviously like the whole holiday thing or we wouldn’t continue to do it. We need to learn how to do it better, because the stress is hurting us. Nearly a quarter of Americans report feeling “extreme stress” during the holidays. Extreme. Women feel it more. They say they have a hard time relaxing during the holidays and they are more likely to take on all of the tasks associated with family celebrations. Apparently Santa is a woman. The American Psychological Association reports that 69% of people feel they have a “lack of time” and 69% also perceive they have a “lack of money.” Who is feeling that way and why? And whose perception is it? Fifty-one percent of us are stressed out about the “pressure to give or get gifts.” Who is creating that pressure? It is you. You are always the cause. You are making the choices.
We all want to put together a memorable holiday for our loved ones. We want to give the kids the special present that they want. We want to travel to visit with friends and family. We want to enjoy some time off to have fun. How do you do that when it all takes time and money and you are already tapped out? You make choices.
Being present is a whole lot more valuable gift than anything you can purchase at the mall. Being present doesn’t cost a penny. When you are present, you are in the now moment. The clock and the calendar don’t matter. During this holiday season, make an effort to be present to the sights and sounds of the season. When you experience the beauty of a Christmas tree adorned with ornaments and sparkling with lights, consider that it is so much more than a holiday decoration. Evergreen trees, wreaths and garlands symbolize eternal life and the decorative lights symbolize the eternal light within. Consider the tree as a present to you and your family from Mother Earth. Be grateful for your abundance. Be uplifted by your faith.
Take another look at your holiday traditions and decide what matters…what is worth your effort. You may find that on further examination, your “to do” list dwindles. You make choices as to how you celebrate the holiday season. You make choices about who you spend time with and what activity is worthy of your time. You make choices about your budget and your need to buy things you can’t afford. And each choice you make brings you a little peace of mind. Because after all, it is the season of Peace on Earth. Give yourself permission to be included. Or give yourself permission to skip the whole thing. Make a choice about how you do the holidays. And then enjoy it!