December can oftentimes be a time of stress and rushed schedules. The commercialism of the Christmas holiday now starts in October and comes to a furry in December. Whether you celebrate Christmas or not, the hustle and bustle can get to you. For many of us, December is also a time of reflection and renewal - a good time to refocus regardless of your religious background. Shifting your thinking is an exercise that can calm your spirit and help you focus in on what is really important to you.
We found this ABCs for Life helpful and thought you would too. So, sit by a warm fire with your loved ones and talk about this ABC lesson as a family. You may be surprised what you learn about each other.
Alphabet for Life
Accept Differences
Be Kind
Count Your Blessings
Dream
ExpressThanks
Forgive
Give Freely
Harm No One
Imagine More
Jettison Anger
Keep Confidences
Love Truly
Master Something
Nuture Hope
Open Your Mind
Pack Lightly
Quell Rumors
Reciprocate
Seek Wisdom
Touch Hearts
Understand
Value Truth
Win Graciously
Xeriscape
Yearn For Peace
Zealously Support a Worthy Cause
- Author Unknown
Ways to Shift Your Focus
- Capture the real meaning of the holidays - The goal is not to be glad they are over
- Donate canned goods to a food bank
- Volunteer at your local soup kitchen
- Donate items you do not use (but are in good condition) to a homeless shelter
- Encourage the kids to pick out toys they feel they can part with
- Simply smile at a stranger – many would be even better!
- Traditions keep families close
- Jump in the car and drive around town to view all the holiday lights
- Make fun crafts as gifts
- Pretend you’re a tourist visiting your own town - Call AAA or your Chamber of Commerce for information - You’ll be amazed at the attractions you’ve never visited
- Reduce the amount of gas used during a heavy travel time - Driving 20 fewer miles this holiday saves about 1 gallon of gas (each home doing it reduces emissions by 1,000,000 tons!)
- Patronize local businesses to help keep your local economy strong
Consider Giving Back to the Earth
- The 2.65 billion cards sold yearly fill a football field 10 stories high - If we each sent one card less, we’d save 50,000 cubic yards of paper
- Update and pare down your holiday mailing list
- Get a tree that can be planted or mulched afterward or buy an artificial tree
- Each home reusing 2 ft of ribbon would save 38,000 miles' worth (that's enough to tie a bow around the entire planet!)
- At least 28 billion pounds of edible food are wasted each year (that's over 100 pounds per person!)
- One less cookie on Santa’s plate reduces snacking by 2,000,000 lbs
- Put food in plastic containers and send them home with guests
How do you make holiday time stress free? Share your ideas below in the comment section.
To your success!
