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Monday, December 22, 2014

HOLI-DAZE




Even sugar-charged Ratatoskr has fallen victim to the dreaded HOLI-DAZE!  

(He is currently riding with me on one of my blood runs, having just collapsed after telling his last Christmas joke:

"Did you hear about the dyslexic Devil worshiper who sold his soul to Santa?")


SO: HOW CAN YOU AVOID THE HOLI-DAZE?


1.) REMEMBER THE REASON FOR THE SEASON:



The Great Mystery's Light visited our world in the human form of a tiny infant.

Take a moment to reflect that that very Light might reside in the hurrying body of the person next to you, 

that very Light formed the stars and the seas and the birds of the air.

Breathe in deeply and pause to soak in the wonder of His caring for the sparrows of the field ... 

and you  ... and what it cost Him.







 2.) SLOW DOWN AND SMELL THE MISTLETOE



And the cinnamon and the chestnuts and the turkey 

and all of the other delicious smells, beautiful sights, and familiar sounds 

that have become symbols of the joy of the holiday season.

Enjoy it in the way it was meant to be enjoyed, 

by relaxing and sharing quality time with family and friends. The rest is just window dressing.


3.) SLEEP



Don't allow the hustle and bustle of the season to cause you to sacrifice sleep. 

It's normal during the holidays to have more on your to-do list than usual, 

but that shouldn't result in cutting SLEEP from that list!

Sleep is restorative. 

It's the time when your body replenishes itself at a cellular level 

and repairs itself from the damage of mental stress, physical strain, infection, sun exposure, and pollutants. 

Without enough sleep, 

our minds and bodies don't function as well as they could, which makes us less productive.

And sleep even aids in LOSING WEIGHT!
http://www.webmd.com/diet/sleep-and-weight-loss

SO SLEEP MORE & WEIGH LESS!!



4.) AIM FOR PROGRESS NOT PERFECTION!



When you expect perfection in your holiday preparations, 

expect a lot of added and unnecessary stress and fatigue as well. 

No battle ever went as planned -- 
ask Napoleon.  

And Christmas can be a BATTLE!

If you're planning to host a party, why do you need to prepare a major feast? 

Why not try an assortment of easy-to-make side dishes or appetizers? 

Or why not consider sharing the load by making the event a pot luck? 

Most holiday guests feel compelled to bring something anyway, so why not let them bring a dish?


5.) PLAN A SILENT NIGHT

Block it in your calendar as if it were a visit from the Pope.

Plan a night for just you.  

Listen to your favorite music no matter if it is POLKA!  

Dance by yourself if the whim takes you.

Whatever would heal you in your down time, do it.


Even when you are alone, 
you are not alone 
if you love:





 6.) ELF YOURSELF




Or your boss.  Or your friends.  

Laughter has been around for awhile now.  There's a reason for that.  

Laughter heals!

Mark Twain has young Satan ask:

"Will a day come when your race will detect the funniness of these juvenilities and laugh at them--and by laughing at them destroy them?

 For your race, in its poverty, has unquestionably only one really effective weapon--laughter. 

Power, Money, Persuasion, Supplication, Persecution--these can lift at a colossal humbug,--

push it a little-- crowd it a little--weaken it a little, century by century: 

but only Laughter can blow it to rags and atoms at a blast. Against the assault of Laughter nothing can stand.
 

- "The Chronicle of Young Satan," Mysterious Stranger Manuscripts


7.) START AND END WITH GRATITUDE





In a sense THANKSGIVING starts the HOLIDAY season and there is WISDOM in that.


If you are not grateful for what you have,
 you will soon find yourself with even less.

Remember:
Somewhere in this world someone is happy with less than what you have.

The way to start and end the day is 

to pause and list the things and people that have made and make your day better just by being in your life.

You may have lost some things, beloved persons in your life -- give yourself permission to grieve.

Take ten minutes to feel shitty.

Then 

THINK OF HOW LUCKY YOU WERE TO HAVE THEM AT ALL --

HOW DIFFERENT A PERSON YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN WITHOUT THEM.

Decide then and there that at least for Christmas

you will be a healing presence in at least one person's life -- 

even if it is only to let some harried driver in the crowded lane ahead of you.


MY PRAYER FOR ALL YOU,
 MY FRIENDS,
THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

HAVE A HEALING, PEACEFUL CHRISTMAS!


Ratatoskr just rolled over and told me to ask you guys:

"What do you call Batman when he skips church?

Christian Bail!"


Great!  

You groan at me, and Ratatoskr is fast asleep!!

My Christmas gift to you:


Look What North Korea Has Started!

12 comments:

  1. I hope you are able to follow your own wise advice and find some peace, comfort and laughter in the season. Not to mention love.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Elephant's Child:
    May love, peace, and laughter color your Christmas, too! Once upon a time I was loved -- and that will have to do this Christmas. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  3. You do much to spread Christmas cheer and remind us to count our blessings. Hope the questionable spot is nothing serious, but do have your doctor examine it. Take care of yourself and remember to take time for yourself. Careful on the roads, too!

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  4. Hi, Roland,

    MERRY CHRTISTMAS to you! Your words are so true. I am particularly thankful at this time. Having one's health, good friends, and means to support oneself are truly a blessing.

    Here's to all the love you've given us over the years and at this time LOVE is what it's truly all about!

    Stay safe, my friend.....

    ReplyDelete
  5. thank you again, for all you do... write and say. HAPPY HOLIDAYS... you are always welcome in my home, though if you stop by... please knock first. lol.

    My Cards:
    http://www.jmhdigital.com/2014/12/say-good-night-to-2014-good-morning-to.html
    http://www.beingretro.com/2014/12/winter-break-i-will-see-you-all-in-2015.html

    Peace!
    Jeremy [Retro]

    ReplyDelete
  6. This is a great list. I appreciate the reminder to count our blessings. It's too easy to get caught up in being busy and lose perspective.

    Thanks for stopping by my blog this week. Appreciate your kind comments. Blessings to you and your family!

    ReplyDelete
  7. D.G.:
    Looks like the spot is following Lady Macbeth's order: "Out! Out damn spot!" Cross your fingers.

    Christmas stress can sometimes suck the very joy out of us during these last days!

    Yes, the bad weather made driving dangerous today! I get to drive more than usual tomorrow, too! Whew!

    Michael:
    Emerson was right: "Health is the first wealth!" And a way to pay the bills is right after it.

    Great that you finished moving for Christmas. Your tree looks lovely. Mine is the scragley Charlie Brown Christmas tree! :-)

    Jeremy:
    Peace and Joy to you and yours this Christmas, too! Thanx for the cards! :-)

    Karen:
    You still have a lovely blog. :-) Perspective is everything each day, but especially on Christmas. May your holidays be lovely.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Thank you for dropping back in over at my blog. As you read, life has been crazy for a while, and it has made many things difficult--including my blog reading.

    I need to implement ALL of these things and just not focus on the garbage that drives me crazy. Thanks!!!

    Merry Christmas, my friend!

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  9. Robin:
    Life as a rare blood courier plus my three facial surgeries for cancer has eaten a good bit of my time this year!! Ouch!

    Sometimes when you have a beloved person in your life whose flaws are tearing at you, it is hard to be serene!!

    Merry Christmas to you, too, Robin! :-)

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  10. I just had to tell you this: My husband's eldest brother is here for the holidays and he sounds like he just left New Orleans. Accent, I mean. He was the oldest kid when they left for CA and then he went back and lived there for some time.My husband doesn't have any of that accent, which is very special.Thank you for your friendship this past year. Marry Christmas and may you stay healthy in the new year. ~ Inger

    ReplyDelete
  11. What a beautiful post! We do an annual get together with close family and friends every year at our house and this year I am doing appetizers! Great idea. Thank you so much for your kind words on my blog. I wish you a very merry and wonderful Christmas!

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  12. Inger:
    I was born in Detroit (which is why Victor's shaping crucible happened there!) but my accent from there is gone but not replaced with anything from here. At least not to me! :-)

    I hope his brother visiting is lifting your husband's spirits. Thank you for being my friend this past year!!

    Merriest of Christmases!!

    Kimberly:
    I missed you from visiting my blog, so when illness and my blood courier job eased up, I went visiting! Thank you for the kind words. :--)

    Staggering the food supplying is only kind to all involved, right? I, too, wish you a very merry and wonderful Christmas. I'm currently watching HOME ALONE 2. The best of the series to me. :-)

    ReplyDelete