December's Newsletter is dedicated to finding clarity, simplicity and joy in your holidays.  I love the holidays!  I can feel the magic in the air.  People slow down a bit and take time to be a little nicer to one another.  The focus becomes family, friends and loved ones!  That's the upside. 

The downside is the all the commercialism.  The messages
that keep playing over and over that you MUST buy this or you must do that to be a good parent, spouse, child, friend or whatever it is you are!  We run ourselves ragged trying to be everything to everyone and lose the joy of the season.

We can stop the insanity of commercialism! We can change our holiday experience by clarifying and simplifying and we will rejuvenate our joy. 

Create Clarity!  Make a list and check it twice...LOL.  Seriously list all the people you would like to connect with this holiday season.  It's time to think outside the box.  You may not have time to see everyone on your list and that's okay.  And who says it has to be in person.  It could be via Skype or phone!  It could be in groups.  Mix it up!  For example a dinner party or outing where you invite several family members, friends and colleagues and ask them to bring a dish to pass.  It could be different times of the day.  Consider breakfast, coffee, lunch, happy hour, dinner or even just dessert!  It could be different activities!  There is no right or wrong or should!  You decide.

Stick to Simplicity!  Make a second list of all your holiday traditions.  Consider this...just because you have always done something doesn't mean you have to continue to do so.  AND stop comparing yourself to what others do.  Identify the things that give you joy and those that do not.  I love the quote, "If it doesn't give you joy, chuck it, change it, or rearrange it."   I would add delegate it to the list as well!  Prioritize your list and decide what is realistic based on time.  A simple way is to grab a sheet of paper and make 4 columns.  Label the columns, Chuck It, Change It, and Delegate It.  List your traditions like baking cookies, sending cards, or decorating the tree, under the appropriate category.  You have just simplified your traditions and created more time for fun!    

JOY!  Comes from having the time to do the things you love!  One tradition I love is decorating the trees in our back yard with white lights with my hubby Steve and a yummy glass of ice cold almost frozen Peppermint Schnapps!  I also love to decorate the tree in our house and cover it with orange (of course) and a woodsy theme!  I don't bake cookies or make candy or crafts.  Instead of sending cards I prefer to call. 

Giving up the things I like least gives me more time to do what I love most...like sitting by the fireplace with my hubby Steve enjoying the twinkling lights on the trees! 

What will you chuck, change, or delegate to bring joy back to your holiday season?