A new attitude?
That's what I've been needing. Lately I've been having a pretty bad case of the Gimmes. Oooh, gimme that new sweater! Yes, I really need that book, gimme two. Chocolate chip cookies? Gimme 3 of those. Okay, 4.
It struck me last night as I was perusing online all of the neat decorating sites, the clothing sites, the furniture sites, and the cooking sites that I hadn't stopped by one single natural health site. Not one. Usually my fingers can't type fast enough to google new ways to make products at home or inventive uses for baking soda. This month's issue of Natural Health magazine has sat, unread, by my bedside covered with Pottery Barn, West Elm, Crate&Barrel, and The Sharper Image catalogs. I had to excavate it just to see what this month's issue is about. Must be time for a reality check. I already have all I need to create a beautiful, healthy, balanced life for myself and my family. I merely need to remember what is really important. Now y'all know I'm not about to preach that perhaps this Christmas should be the year when your family donates all their gifts to a shelter and experiences the true joy of giving, perhaps that is you, but that is not me. My daughter will happily unwrap many a gift on Christmas morn, I am however suggesting a certain detachment is needed.
This is me now. This is not how I want to look at Christmas.
Can balance be found during the holidays? Can the Natural Living magazine get at least equal read-time to the Pottery Barn Catalog Holiday 2010? I believe so and here's my plan:
When I start to feel like I need some material thing that means I need to take a break from shopping or browsing. Time for a glass of water and some Christmas music.
If things start to feel hectic my mantra is simplify, simplify, simplify. One or two kinds of cookies, instead of 5 or 6. Gift cards instead of shipping presents. Limiting holiday commitments to ensure plenty of time for sitting in front of the fire and watching Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer on ABC Family's 25 Days of Christmas specials.
Drink water. Drink more water. Having to pee a lot ensures that I sit down and take a break for a moment, right?
Start out every day with a smoothie. No matter what else happens I can load up my smoothie with lots of fruits, Omega 3s and fiber. All that fiber will ensure more "sitting down breaks" (I know, I know, too much information....)
Keep inspirational and/or healthy lifestyle focused reading materials in my purse and car. That way when I have a few moments before picking up my daughter or during basketball practice I have something to read that isn't an ad circular. Same with podcasts, I'm keeping them inspirational like The Moth Podcast, or healthy like The Nutrition Diva Podcast. Or fun like Under Cover with Deb and Beth, one of the finest book review podcasts I've yet come across. Not that I'm biased.
That's my plan and with three weeks left until Christmas I'm glad to have one. What about you, what are you doing to keep yourself balanced during the holiday season?
4 comments:
Wow this is quite thought provoking and I am tired so maybe later I will think of what I need to do to make these next days more enjoyable.
I am going back to the store...Just discovered that my son has grown out of his winter coat. :(
Anonymous, I hope you do make time to think of what you can do for yourself to make the holidays more enjoyable. Taking care of yourself truly is the best gift you can give yourself.
Chellie you have to tell your son to stop growing! Make it a rule!
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