Dear ,
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How do you really feel about the holidays? 
I must admit that the period between Thanksgiving and New Years Day is not my favorite time of the year. The days are short, the weather is getting colder, and it's the end of the outdoor flea market and garage sale season. (My wife and I are avid collectors.)
The stress of getting the house presentable, food shopping, and meal preparation for the holidays can feel overwhelming. I have to adjust my work schedule to get things done.The upcoming holiday parties cause apprehension because of the indecision of what gifts to get and the guilt of overeating. There is also more traffic on the road. For me, the stress never seems to end!
Like many people, I tend to experience a feeling of sadness and regret during the holidays. Another year is coming to an end, I'm getting older, and I have a few more aches and pains. I reflect on the past and worry about the year to come. This season has been especially tough. I find it hard to watch television or read a newspaper without being affected by all the gloom and doom about current events and the financial crisis.
I have come to realize that as I get older, I view the holidays in a less favorable light. However, I loved the holidays when I was a child. There were no pressures, no regrets. It was a time to get gifts, and I had a break from school. There was also a special kind of "magic" to the season.
 I started to think, "Why can't I take my childhood enthusiasm and combine it with my adult wisdom to create a better attitude towards this time of year?" Thus, I decided to take a break from the news and think of all the things I like about the holidays. Despite the preparation involved, I really do enjoy seeing family and friends, as well as the bounty of delicious food. It's a time to celebrate the many wonderful people and blessings in my life.
The holidays are also a time for me to take a little time off to relax and think. It's critical for highly sensitive people to take this down time. It gives us a chance to recharge our emotional and physical batteries.
Also, I know that dwelling on the past and worrying about the future isn't productive. It has no effect on the outcome of anything and only adds needless stress to my life. Instead, my intention is to focus on the good times and build upon the things that I did well in 2008. While I've made some mistakes, I trust that those were necessary for my growth, and I will do my best to learn from them.
 I believe that happiness is a choice. You can choose to enjoy the holidays, as well as the way you conduct your life. It's all a matter of shifting your focus. This year, I choose to have a "childlike" attitude of joy and optimism towards life. No pressure, no regrets, and enjoying every moment that I have. It is my sincere hope that you can do the same. HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL! |
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HSP Challenges
I was driving on the highway and tried to change lanes. The person behind me actually sped up so I couldn't make the change. I immediately became upset and highly agitated. This has happened to me more than once or twice. I thought to myself...do I ruin my day, or should I forgive this person and move on? I decided on the latter and immediately felt better.
As HSPs, it's easy for us to take things personally and to allow external things, such as discourteous drivers, to get to us. However, if you take a step back, you can see how silly it is to take a situation like that personally. After all, this driver doesn't even know you. He's probably just having a bad day, and there's no reason in the world for you to take on that person's negativity.
Do you have an HSP challenge, large or small, that you'd like to share with other HSP's. You'll feel better, and I'm sure others can relate and learn from your experience. Email me, and I'll anonymously publish some of your challenges in our newsletter.
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