So it's mid December, I have exams this week, and the holidays are looming. For many of us, the holiday season can get bogged down in materialism and unhealthy lifestyle habits such as excessive consumption of alcohol and sweets. We may sleep less, travel more, and get bogged down in the stress of trying to see everyone, be everywhere, and find holiday perfection - an impossible task.
My goals this holiday season are to try to simplify, minimize, and find acceptance (and possibly enjoyment) in the inevitable stress that takes over during this season. How do I plan to accomplish some of these lofty goals? Well, I'll tell you:
Minimize Materialism: Homemade gifts! Yes, that's right. We've been attempting this for the past 2 years. In the fall we picked a bunch of organic apples and made sauce and butter. I've saved a bunch to give as gifts. (This should not be a surprise to anyone...) We also plan to print out and frame some of the beautiful pictures taken by Adam this summer. Only cost is the frame and picture printing. Here are some other ideas for more eco-friendly, simple, less-costly, and awesome gifts:
- Plants! Last year, Adam's Nana made us all cacti gardens. They are beautiful, put out oxygen in the air, and we've kept ours alive!
- Get Crafty: bead some jewelry (malas anyone?), make soothing eye-pillows, soap, candles, knit a scarf or hat, etc, etc...
- FOOD! I don't know about you, but I love food! Breads, jams, jellies, dips, whole meals - whatever....all loved and appreciated. Adam's Grandma and Grandpa gave us a bunch of venison! Local, hormone free meat...nice.
- The gift of time: Remember being a kid and making "coupons" for your mom? Back rubs, emptying the dishwasher....You can still give gifts of time. Meet a friend for tea, offer to babysit for friends to give them a night off, make dinner and invite friends over. Donating your time to spend with someone or to help them out means more than any material item.
Health During the Holidays: - Think outside the box - Is it really necessary to have a whole table full of desserts at your holiday dinner? Do you have to have a massive meal with more options than an Asian buffet? Do you really have to fill your plate, and go back for seconds? Limit portion size! You can try everything if you want, but you don't have to get huge, gluttonous portions.
- Eat fresh, organic, and local - If you must eat meat, get local meat. An animal raised in a pasture on a nearby farm. If they have to die, at least let them have a happy life. Rather than supporting massive factories, filled with animals living on top of each other, pumped with hormones, that can't move, run, stroll, and graze. Try more fresh, uncooked dishes - a fresh greens or fruit salad. When you cook food to death in casseroles, you cook out a lot of the vitamins and minerals that make the food healthy.
- Limit caffeine, sweets, and alcohol: Moderation is key. Drink green tea or decaf tea instead of coffee, don't get wasted, eat smaller portions of cake, cookies, pie.
- Sleep, exercise, meditate, take some alone time for yourself. When we get out of our day-to- day routines, we forget to do the things that sustain us. Make time for this.
Finally, don't stress if you can't accomplish your goals, or if things don't turn out how you want them to. Try to let them roll off your back, and learn lessons for the next season!
( My mom and Dingle relaxing)
(Adam's mom - wearing a present bow on her head :) and Nana)
(Adam's Granddad and Dad)
