Holiday 9-1-1

What’s the 1st song that pops into your head about the holiday season? Is it "Oh, Holy Night" or "Grandma got run over by a reindeer?"

Let's try to get it closer to "Oh, Holy Night" and explore how you can have a happy, healthy and holier holiday.

For many years the holidays left me feeling a bit empty, burdened and let’s not forget overweight. You get the picture, I was in way OVER my head. Then I hit the “That’s it! button and declared, “This holiday’s going to be different.”  

It was time to change and to enlist help. My hubby and I looked around and realized we had a whole team of helpers at our disposal, they were just disguised as family members. So, we decided to organize and mobilize ourselves and the troops. 

10. Tips to a Healthy, Happy and Holy Holiday:

1.  Have a Plan.  Have a plan for your time, your health and your Spiritual growth. 

 Years ago I created a ‘Holiday Help! Checklist to enlist help from family members and keep us all accountable. It's our families strategic plan for the season. It includes all the activities that make the holidays complete and you can tweak it for your family. You can post it on the fridge and let each family member or holiday guest “sign up” to help. Then, assign a completion date for every activity on your calendar and who is responsible for its’ completion. The checklist keeps you organized and holds everyone accountable. 

If no one signs up for an activity, it doesn’t get done. Oh what fun, it is to get the whole family helping along, Hey! When you’re organized and everyone’s working together cheerfully, everything is just better.  

If you want the checklist, e-mail me: [email protected] 

2. Be Still.  Open your heart to the Spirit. Pray, meditate and on the true reason for the season. Read the Bible, devotional or other spiritual books to slow you down and grow in faith. 

3. Simplify the Season. Ask; Why are we doing what you’re doing? Ask your family, “What are the most meaningful traditions? Do your best & ditch the rest.

4.  Control gift giving. Ask the kids TODAY: “What gifts do you remember from last year?” Then brace yourself.  If your loved ones can’t remember, simplify to just 3 gifts. 

5. Focus on Relationships. Focus on growing in love instead of more stuff. Simplify and include others in the Season. Let go of wanting things to be perfect. Life is not a Hallmark show. They’re not going to be. Strive for ‘good enough’ instead. You really do NOT have to do it all alone. When we let others help we teach our kids and hubby how to love by serving. 

6. Be grateful and Focus on the Moments – A couple years ago, out 12 foot tree toppled over during the night. We woke up to shattered ornaments and a huge mess. I posted a picture on Facebook and a colleague was doing a short film for Hallmark and asked if she could use our picture. So, in the end we were all grateful that even our toppled over tree was used for the good. See all the joy and gratitude in the moments. 

7. Breathe. Focus on breathing and meditating to still your mind and body. Breathe in: I am at peace. Breathe out: I share love.

8. Unplug from Tech & Plug into God's energy. Did you know the average adult uses 10 hours and 39 minutes on technology per day. Take just 30 min. of that to plug into God's energy and watch the season slow down and you gain peace.

9. Love your Body. You know what to do. Focus on eating nutritionally dense food, drink at least 8 glasses of water per day, comfort yourself.

10. Give the gift of Love. Grow closer together with family and friends as you share your love. In 1999 our family started the The Christmas Love Box tradition. Every Christmas Eve our family writes love notes to everyone else in the family. At night we gather in the living room, with candle light flickering and chocolatey treats. We pass the box around and each person reads a love note out loud to another. Aaaawwws follow. Eyes light up and tears flow. Our love is proclaimed out loud and everyone witnesses the magic of love swirl around the room. It's an intimate, joyful, peaceful, healing and loving night.

So many friends love it too so we created the Christmas Love Box tradition kit so everyone can do it easily. If you’re not Christian, you can do the Original Love Box tradition. Sharing love is truly what it’s all about and connects us all.  

You can get yours online at: www.originallovebox.com

The best gift you can give to your family and the world is the gift of your love.

May the season fill your heart with sacred moments amidst controlled chaos. Keep the faith and by all means, just keep breathing - deeply.     

Merry Christmas! Happy Hannukah! Happy Everything!