Cindy and I were still in bed, trying to become fully awake, when the talk turned to the stresses of the holidays.
We both agreed that the stress begins about two weeks before Thanksgiving and builds steadily until Christmas night, when it then begins to ebb, finally disappearing the first week of the new year.
We also agree that this holiday stress produces feelings of guilt, anger, withdrawal---and in the extreme---suicide.
All of this comes, as the song says, at "the most wonderful time of the year".
While I love the idea of Christmas and Thanksgiving and New Year's celebrations, the reality is often tempered by tension and stress.
Often, stress is produced by expectations of others in our circle of family and friends. Sometimes it comes in the form of feeling pressure to do something/go somewhere we don't want to do. Many times, we agonize over what gift to give aunt Mossie or uncle Jack or brother Bill.
What are your thoughts on this subject? Do you become stressed at Christmastime?
Call these the music, poetry, fact and fiction of a dreamer....Call this LYRICS of LOVE and LORE.
Yes, I do feel stress during the holidays. I am partly to blame because I allow it ... still trying to use a simple two letter word: no
ReplyDelete"No" is a difficult word for me to say but I am getting better at using it when I feel in my heart it has to be said for my own sake and sanity.
I find this is a totally modern problem. It used to be families worked together to make sure they had food and shelter for the coming years. Now that is all ready made for us and we stress over insignificant things like christmas parties and decorations. Our Grandparents would be in shock how we live now.
ReplyDeletePerhaps can you you a little ease, if you hear my Video "White Christmas".
ReplyDeleteMany Greetings Sabine
I do not feel the stress of the holidays, the presents I get them after the New Year!
ReplyDeleteSave on prices and I do not stress in the middle of the sea of people!:-))
Ciao Clint!
No - No - No.
ReplyDeleteNon stress and what for??
For what reason and the presents why not give
them another time?
Allora, wake up, you two!!
We are not children any more!
Hug you both,
Monika
Jane---I completely agree. They would be shocked and probably PO'd that we have let this great day come to this.
ReplyDeleteSabine---I did see your blog post and listened to your song, White Christmas. Bravo! May all your Christmases be white!
Franz---Good for you! Stress is no good any time!
Monika---Thank you! Hugs to you, too!
Christmas doesn't bring a unique sort of stress...... I stress about any form of entertaining, not because I'm anti-social (quite the opposite) but because I'm a lousy cook! I resent the fact that, just because I'm female, I should be able to produce cakes, puddings, trifles out of my hat! Then resentment combines with stress!!!! Anyway, I'm now 80 and not so much is expected of me, so I hope to calm down!
ReplyDeleteRinkly Rimes---Ha...you make me laugh. It is funny whet we stress over as individuals. I hope you have the most stress-free, relaxing and joyous Christmas ever!
ReplyDeleteI am now following your blog---you are invited to follow mine. God bless.
it's stressful when you celebrate the way society would like you to... with lots and lots of STUFF. (junk imported from other countries made with slave labor, no less).
ReplyDeletei'm opting out more and more each year of the traditions (no tree, no store-bought gifts) and celebrating in ways that make me happy. it's not about being a scrooge, it's about being sensible!=)
Kelli---I agree with you 100%. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI always say I will not be stressed this year and then sure enough it hits! With the kids it's hard...you want it to be magical without breaking the bank and then you get to a point where you have to stop and remember what it's all about. :)
ReplyDelete