It's November, two days before Thanksgiving, and already the local radio stations are playing nonstop Christmas tunes. Each year, it seems the trees, the lights, the music, the window displays - they all come out a bit earlier than the year before. Sooner or later, we'll just start dumping leftover Halloween candy into stockings. Might as well, right?That said, I love the holiday season. To a point. Thanksgiving is no exception. I get a little miffed each year when we seem, as an American society, to gloss over what I feel is an important celebration. (No, it has nothing to do with my birthday being often the same day.) I like the season of giving thanks and giving presents and good cheer to others. It just makes me feel all kinds of warm and fuzzy inside.
However, the holidays are also a time of sadness and depression for some people. For most, the holidays are chocked full of stress too. There are family members to entertain; parties to host or attend; church functions (if you're the type); lots of shopping to do; etc. It's enough to make the average person just...stall. The following are my tips for surviving the holidays in good form. They are not only for you, but for me as well. Fa la la la la la la...
1. Shop early. No, I don't mean in June or July, but that's awesome if you think that far in advance. Waiting until December 15th or later is just going to stress you out and a lot of the good stuff is picked over. The best part of giving gifts to people you care about is putting thought and feeling behind it. I just don't think you can do that at the 11th hour while trying to choose between a drugstore perfume or a fruitcake. Sorry.
2. Avoid Black Friday like the plague. Hello sheep! This is our way of getting you to spend MORE MONEY on CRAP you DON'T NEED! Getting pneumonia while waiting in line at 3 AM for a Tickle-Me-Elmo is dumb dumb dumb. If it's about toys, remember this...your kids (depending on age) will be more likely to make a big deal about what YOU make a big deal about. It's often cooler to NOT be doing what everyone else is doing. Think about that saying "If everyone jumped off a bridge..." You can't tell me that the only way to get a good deal on a Wii is spending the night outside of Target Thanksgiving eve. Balderdash!
Black Friday is when people cram shoulder-to-shoulder into stores, grabbity-grabbing their way through tons of toys, electronics, clothes, and all sorts of other gifts. All those people + confined spaces + stress + time limits = STINKY STINKY STINKY. I can't even fathom the amount of germs and the stench from people hustling and bustling like mad people. I suppose I could liken it to the Vera Bradley Sale which is the only other place in the world (aside from a prison) where I've witnessed women coming to fisticuffs over something as silly as a patterned bag.
3. Give from the heart. Choose your gifts with thoughtfulness and fun in mind. Don't expect gifts. Make someone's day by getting them what you think they really really want. Don't skimp. That doesn't mean spend a lot of money - that means dedicating a little time, creativity, and good cheer to the assignment. Don't just give gifts to give gifts.
4. Be careful when re-gifting! Make damn sure that necklace you're giving to Aunt so-and-so isn't the same one Aunt so-and-so gave you last year. AWKWARD.
It's better to not re-gift really. Donate unwanted gifts or take them back to the store. You really can only re-gift certain items like candles, unused lotions, etc. without being a real jerk.
5. Show appreciation. I don't care who you are, if you open a gift from someone, act happy about it. Be nice. Be appreciative. So what if it's not what you were hoping for or if it's really ugly. That person gave you something when he/she didn't have to - to make you smile. Tossing it aside and gunning for the next present is selfish and rude. Spend time saying 'thank you' and watching others open their gifts. It's not all about you, ya know.
6. Decorate tastefully. Nothing says stupid like dumb decorations. Less is more. Mind you, if your yard is a winter wonderland and your family loves it, you can afford the bill, and it's in the spirit of happiness and good cheer, go for it. Just know some people are laughing at your lack of taste. If you don't care, that's awesome. You're Chevy Chase and I applaud you. Seriously. :) When it comes to decorating, a few things, but this is my opinion only - white lights are cool. Red lights send the wrong message. Blue lights are tricky. Black lights says you're having a rager, not celebrating the Santa. Multicolor lights are okay, but only if they're the really old, super retro ones. Candles are terrific. Wreaths are tasteful. Blow-up figurines...not my style, but it may be yours. White trees, en vogue. Green trees, wonderfully traditional. Fake or real? You decide. A Charlie Brown tree is ALWAYS a good idea too. :)
7. Sing a little. Break out the Nat King Cole or any other hit list to celebrate the seasons. There's nothing wrong with singing out of tune one time a year if it makes you happy.
8. Watch your favorite films. If you don't like A Christmas Carol, It's a Wonderful Life, or A Christmas Story, then I don't get you. If you don't like A Charlie Brown Christmas, wow. Amazing. But think about your traditions when it comes to music and movies. Go see a show. Buy a leg lamp and get down with being corny for a month or two. It's refreshing.
9. Cook. Oh my gosh, cook. If you aren't good at it, try. It's fun. Make cookies, candy, dinners, whatever. It's fun. Cooking a little will make you appreciate what you're eating a lot more and you'll consume less.
10. Don't be offensive at work. If you're wearing jingle bells, you should probably take them off. Holiday colors are okay. An occasional Christmas earring or hat is considered passable. But! Don't get caught like Mark Darcy in Bridget Jones' Diary - wearing a reindeer jumper like a fool. Save it for an Ugly Sweater party or for Christmas Day with your family. They probably got it for you. :)
11. Be festive. In the Midwest, we tend to regularly be stand-offish and jerky in general. Take a cue from our friends to the south and be warm and giving during this time at least. Say "hello" to strangers; be nice to clerks in stores; say 'please' and 'thank you'; hold the door for someone; let the old ladies cross the road before you turn; etc. You never know, the spirit just may hold over until February at least. If someone lets you in front of them in a long line of traffic, wave thank you. If someone drops a gift card, pick it up and hand it to them. Smile a lot. You'll be surprised at how many people a) talk to you or b) smile back at least.
12. Think about your year. Really think about it. What happened? What did you learn? This is not a time to have regrets, but to grow. Think about your loved ones and the experiences you've had with them. Think about the coming year and the hopes and fears you have. Think about funny times and sad times and crazy times and tough times and reflect on how those experiences have helped to compose the you that you are at the end of 2010. Think about your relationships. Think about your career. Think about your sense of ethics and spirituality. Think about love, hope, patience, sadness, joy, fear, pain, kindness...the whole gamut. I mean my God, how often do we really take a moment and really just...THINK.
Pour another cup of hot chocolate or coffee, sit down by yourself, and do some soul-searching. If you can be outside, that's even better.
Appreciate your life for what it is, what it's taught you, and where it's going to lead.
Happy Holidays.
:)
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