Wiregrass Seniors Magazine December 2018 DECEMBER ISSUE | Page 24

Page 24
WiregrassSeniorsMagazine.com
How to Survive the Holiday Season
Shoppers descend like a pride of lions scouting a
waterhole—$100 TVs substitute nicely for zebras!—
and tackle their prey with coupon-throwing ferocity.
Aunt Fay is still reeling from the Thanksgiving politi-
cal debate gone awry while just trying to pass the
mashed potatoes to Uncle Ed. A gigantic light dis-
play flashes like a strange holiday rave on the cor-
ner of my development while Up On The Housetop
plays on loop for weeks.
Ah, the holidays. We missed you.
It’s survival of the fittest, or at least survival of the
most prepared, during the holiday hype where sugar
plums dance above our spinning heads. Even a trip
to the grocery store is a lesson in stealth and agil-
ity! Dasher, dancer and prancer—forget deer
names, those are just what people have to do in
order to get a container of cranberry sauce in aisle
nine!
You need a strategy. Some tips, tricks, and notes
to develop a plan.
School programs, parties, work socials, musicals
and at least 200 other events are waiting to fill up
your calendars. Family meals are scheduled and
ready for celebrations (and we all know that certain
cousin we all have that nobody is really desperate
to sit next to at the dinner table…).
The list you didn’t know you needed. It may not
have tips on how to Not React To Aunt Jenna’s New
Hair Color That Changes Every Year, but let’s be
honest—there may not be much preparation for that.
1) Take Time For Yourself
Everyone is having a party. Family events are hap-
pening every weekend (and the family photos! “Okay
now we need all the men!”, “Oh, next we need all
the cousins over age 12!” You get the picture!
Joyous occasions and chattering interactions are
fun. Really, they are. But you need some you time.
Quiet times to rejuvenate. A few minutes to reflect
on the day. A walk by yourself. A bath while listening
to your favorite music. Personal time is scarce—so
you need to carve out some moments for you. After
all, doesn’t “holiday” mean “an event where no work
is done?”
2) Do Something New
So you might not go all out and try bobsledding—