It’s Festivus! Happy Holidays

This is one of the  hardest, saddest and most melancholy celebratory periods of the year.  So many are joyously running about charging up credit cards they’ll whine about next year, wearing yuletide clothing and silly hats, and for some it’s downright unbearable.

I’ve had years where to watch the merriment that surrounds this season has been unbelievable painful. And, there have been years where I was happy to join in. So I can see both sides.

I’m thinking now about a friend of mine. She has no family left, was an only child and has an only child who is now making Holiday plans with her new husband and his family. Things have not been stable for her this year financially and there is nothing beyond the critical expenditures in the budget for anything extra.

The Yuletide season was always her favorite growing up. She loved the decorations, the parties, the silly gift exchanges and the fun of seasonal secrecy. She told me this makes it twice as hard for her to deal with the sadness she feels. She’s tried without success to generate some feeling of “something” other than to want to crawl under the covers and sleep till all the noise is over.

What I’ve attempted to share with her is that we, ourselves, are the only ones who can control how we feel. It’s a choice to feel happy or sad during this season. Why not enjoy the expectant energy in the air and work on creating something new for 2012. This is such a great opportunity. If you’re not rushing around shopping and attending parties, take advantage of the time when everyone else is busy and will leave you alone to make plans, goals and get clear on what you want to create in the new year.

Above all, set yourself do-able goals that still stretch you beyond your comfort zone. 2012 looks to be a good year for that.

Happy Holidays from Created Life Strategies and me.