The Holidays. Do they bring delight or depression? Does the frenzy bring you down or energize you?
Here's what some of you had to say:
*I have always loved the holidays,although this year(my first year of business) it is hectic. My whole family has been cooperative in planning holiday gatherings on days I'm not out on the road selling my candles,soaps and gift baskets. Sending the dad out to take the kids shopping gave me free time to work on orders,thankfully.Of course a short hospital stay helped make everyone a little more considerate to good old mom.(gall bladder surgery)
*I get very excited before the holidays - planning, shopping, baking.....but then on the big day the presents are all opened in record time...the dinner that took all day to prepare is eaten in under a half hour... Then it's clean it all up time and it's all over. I find I get really down once the holiday is actually here and I realize how much work went into just one day and how quickly that day is over.
*Usually, I am delighted with the Holiday Season as a whole. But this year I was really down. I am not sure if there was a specific reason or if it was just me. I just knew that I could not play leap frog with the family this year. So I decided that I am important to me too. I wanted to stay at home with my children. No jumping from house to house, no stress, no dishes to be prepared for each. I called each of them and very kindly declined to attend this year. I expected them to be upset, but I actually had a number of relatives say, "Well, good for you...I wish I had stood up for myself on a few occasions and stayed home." I felt no guilt, hurt no feelings and had a fantastic time with my children.
