After a quick dash to the post office 1 hour before closing on a Saturday, followed by a trip to Kroger to find an odd light bulb, here are some #december survival tips that Ive devised for myself and offer to you, lovingly crafted over my salad at lunch break: 1. A non-combative approach: I may or may not get what I need in the time that I need to get it. Combating another person - whether through outright fighting or micro-aggressions like condescendingly informing the Guest Services clerk, YOU ARE OUT OF BUGGIES, with a gth look - will not get me what I want any faster, but it will feed the frenzy everyones feeling. Instead, consciously wish people well, breathe through and around and under the aggression youre feeling. Its normal in this world to feel stressed. We dont have to make other people feel it. 2. Look both ways. People are suuuper focused on getting in and getting out right now, so its really important to pause a sec before pulling out of a parking space, turning a corner (either in a car or in the market), or stepping out into the street. 3. Take a buggy or basket back into the store where someone else can easily find it. Keep your eyes open, and you may even be able to hand it off to someone with a smile, cheering both of your days. 4. Eat before the party when possible. That way youll be less inclined to over-eat, and if youre a holiday drinker, you may avoid the Oops Im wasted, thing that often happens to infrequent party drinkers. Those of us who kept in the party drinking habit the rest of the days of the year usually have no problem here, aside from the occasional alchoholism that affects one of us here and there [wink]. 5. Re-watch Love Actually as early as you can and remind yourself that love comes in all forms and it frequently returns even when youd thought all was lost. The kids still precious, Emma Thompson is still DEVASTATING, and Hugh Grant still dances in a way that makes me fall in love all over again. 6. Youre not going to be all alone unless you choose to be. Check your 2,700 Facebook invites; there will be something for you to do. 7. Following #6, TALK TO SOMEBODY. Seriously, whether its stress or seasonal depression or grief over a loved one whos not around this year, talk to someone. Even if you know youre being a Debby-Downer. They can get you back later, like at Valentines when they get dumped on Feb. 11 or something. Seriously, that Im a burden, nobody wants to hear my problems, thing is a symptom of depression (low self-esteem). Dont let it drag you further. Do something about it. Private message me even. Its a part of my contract with the universe to let other people dump on me the way Ive so frequently dumped on other people (that sounds particularly horrifying, doesnt it?! Oh well). 8. Following #7, consciously make room/time for listening to other people and offering a kind word. Not necessarily advice. Maybe just a little, Hey, how are you doing right now? and then listening for a few moments. You dont have to throw off your entire days schedule. Simply relate to somebody for a bit, and when its time to go, sincerely wish them well, give a hug or something, and maybe make plans to check in later if your time was abbreviated by circumstance. 9. CONSCIOUSLY INCLUDE your family members and friends who may tend to experience isolation and loneliness this time of year, and if there are any new folks around, whether people whove just moved to town, just started attending your group, just started dating your friend, make sure to include them in some way. You dont have to be their best friend. Just extend an invitation, and dont be too insistent. Sometimes people really just dont want to do whatever it is youre doing, and thats ok. 10. Self care. If you dont already have a routine, I always like what Ayurveda has to say. Google Ayurvedic self care for winter and just do whatever sounds appealing. Its a Mind-Body-Spirit thing, ya know? 11. If you have a significant other, a child, or a pet, do something nice and comforting for them too. Pretty much anything on the self care list you can do for someone else (for example, draw them a nice bath with good candles & good smells & stuff, bring them something good to drink, buy them a treat, learn how to give a decent back or foot rub and go do it!). Itll be good for your relationship, good for you to be able to give love in a tangible way, and it will help with all that end-of-year stress. 12. Fresh air. I think in German its called Luften (but with an umlaut over the U). Open all the windows in your house for a few minutes to get fresh air in and stagnant air out. It will make your place feel so much better and will brighten yer spirits! Also, invest in plenty of warm clothes and accessories so you can get out for a little bit each day. Here in Little Rock, we have access to lots of green space (thats kinda soggy brown-grey now, but oh well), and we are really lucky to have it. Most people I know (me too) drive everywhere and then complain of cabin fever and feeling all stove up in the winter. The remedy for that is to GO OUTSIDE for a while. Even a 10-minute walk can be so rejuvenating! I think my Xmas present to myself this year is going to be cold-weather running gear because this year I want to keep running when its cold outside ;-) OK, theres your symbolic 12 number of things. I hope theyre helpful. Love to you all.
Posted on: Sat, 13 Dec 2014 20:00:37 +0000
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