Sometimes, the holidays are filled with the joy we associate with that time of year. The season flows. Magic is in the air.
Sometimes, the holidays can be difficult and lonely.
Here are some ideas I've learned through personal experience, and practice, to help us get through difficult holidays:
Deal with feelings, but try not to dwell unduly on them. Put the holidays in perspective: A holiday is one day out of 365. We can get through any 24-hour period.
Get through the day, but be aware that there may be a post-holiday backlash. Sometimes, if we are just "surviving" to get through the day, the feelings will catch up to us the next day. Deal with them, too. Get back on track as quickly as possible.
Find and cherish the love that's available, even if it's not exactly what we want. Is there someone we can give love to and receive love from? Friends in difficult situations? Is there a family who would enjoy sharing their holiday with us? Don't be a martyr – GO! There may be those who would appreciate our offer to share our day with them.
We are not in the minority if we find ourselves experiencing a less-than-ideal holiday. How easy, but untrue, to tell ourselves the rest of the world is experiencing the perfect holiday, and we're alone in conflict.
We can create our own holiday agenda. Buy yourself a present. Find someone to whom you can give. Unleash your loving, nurturing self and give in to the holiday spirit.
Maybe past holidays haven't been terrific. Maybe this year wasn't terrific. But next year can be better, and the next a little better. Work toward a better life – one that meets your needs. Before long, you'll have it!
-Melody Beattie, The Language of Letting Go: Daily Meditations for Codependents©1990God, help me enjoy and cherish the holiday. If my situation is less than ideal, help me take what's good and let go of the rest.
I would like to apologize for the fact that Friday's Inspiration has been missing over the last several weeks. I have been out of the office and at a remote job site, and have not had access to my email. Some of you are new to the mailing list, and are included as a means of introduction to this "newsletter". Welcome!
I have been permanently transferred to the Portland office, and will be moving to Beaverton, Oregon between Christmas and the New Year. I look forward to the opportunity that this move presents to my new bride and I, both professionally and personally.
I would also like to wish each of you the very best of Holiday seasons, and a most prosperous New Year. It is my intention to continue the Friday's Inspiration into the next year, with a different flavor to the "upper" part with a new author's words of inspiration and the concept of "Simple Abundance". I think you will find it to your liking, but if not, please ask to be removed from the mailing list.
As for me, this was a good year. It seemed to get better as it wore on. Things are really looking up for me, after having been so far down at it's start, and I thank God daily for each sunrise, each friend, each expression of love and patience and understanding, and all my many blessings.
May you, too, be watched over and blessed.
Michael
email: archangel155@hotmail.com
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