Comments on: Merry Menopause Christmas! De-stress This Holiday Season

By: LynetteSh

LynetteSh — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 19:15:15 +0000

Thanks for a great sharing, Paperpetal. I love the fictitious newsletter idea – too funny. My husband and I have decided to do a photo collage as our holiday offering – sort of the year in pictures. That will actually be fun! Am decorating this am with stuffed santa, moose, and angel dolls. Should take all of about 15 mins……I’m already having happy hoidays!

By: Paperpetal

Paperpetal — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 19:01:12 +0000

I’m in total agreement about making the holidays something that is meaningful to you–not what tradition and pressures tell you it should mean. I’ve paired a lot of unnecessary tasks out of my holidays, though it has been a process that has taken time and adjustment.
However, I’m a writer so I actually look forward to sending holiday greetings every year. Just wanted to share this experience surrounding the topic:

My partner and I just combined households, so I added him and his daughter to the annual photo card I send out for my daughter and me. I also decided to send out a humorous “Onion” style newsletter about each of us and our experiences over this year, instead of the formal letter I’ve sent in the past. (Which would have been REALLY long with the new additions to the household.)

People are really getting a kick out of the newsletter format and like the idea of reading semi-ficticious things about us (such as my partner’s daughter being so good at digital photography that the National Portrait Gallery wants her to photograph President Obama) instead of a ho-hum list of what I’ve come to term as, “our obnoxious achievements.” Staying in touch with others is important to me at this time of year–but it doesn’t have to be stale!

By: rae

rae — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 20:56:38 +0000

loved that you got this blog out there, I will print it and my honey will pick it up and read it cause its in the examiner.com !

By: Anne

Anne — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 04:34:03 +0000

Now that I’m on my antidepressant, I’m serene and happy and doing only what I want to do for Xmas. My kids are coming, and I did put up the tree (so many happy memories in each ornament) This is the first year I didn’t cry while decorating the tree (thank you medication!) Many of the ornamanents were from my mom, who died in Oct. I was happy remembering her, so putting up her ornaments gave me joy. Also all the treasured little funny ones my kids made over the years. My kids will be here for Xmas, so I have their stockings ready to go, hung on antique XC skiis. I bought new socks for my son in law and daughter in law. Take joy in finding fun and funky presents for the stockings. The key to destressing is just to keep the holiday traditions that have meaning and joy for you! I like Xmas newsletters, bec/ I hear from folks I haven’t heard from all year. But I do understand the urge to simplify. In years past, during holiday blue periods there were years I rebelled and didn’t decorate at all, and then that was rather sad. If you don’t want to decorate I think you should go to a tropical place or on holiday for Xmas. But even when we lived overseas in tropics, it was really important to the kids to keep Xmas w/ family traditions.
Do what makes you happy & fulfilled. Happy Holidays!

By: Rori

Rori — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 22:24:58 +0000

I loved this! You made it okay for me to forget the cards and not sweat the gifts (though I still feel I have to send some – but maybe not next year!) – Happy Holidays to you…Love, Rori

By: rae

rae — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 19:29:34 +0000

when you feel guilty,about doing less, remember the celebration is really about the birth of Christ! this year, our local economy is just about bottomed out, my little girlfriends, five , all under the age of 11 and were talking about how xmas will be different this year. So they asked is we could make xmas presents, we did this one year in their school and they remembered… that will be my xmas celebration this year making it happen for the girls!!! Mele Kalikimaka you all!!!!

By: Lynette Sheppard

Lynette Sheppard — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 18:05:23 +0000

Even now, I am waiting for the urge to write cards, bake, or get a tree. Since it has not happened yet (and may not) I’m just going to wait and see. Which is causing me to feel very relaxed……..
Thanks for the heads up on the Twitter link, Kat! I fixed it. And Goodpix – send us a photo of that Charlie Brown Tree – it sounds wonderful to me!

By: Poetikat

Poetikat — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 16:56:26 +0000

I loved this post, Lynette! It all just makes so much sense.
As I sit down to write my already late Christmas cards, I’m seriously contemplating jettisoning all but a few to family. Thanks! Great ideas — every one of them.

By the way, your Twitter link in the e-mail appears to be broken (at least for me).

Happy Destressed Holidays!

Kat

By: goodpix

goodpix — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 22:18:24 +0000

I was noyt going to put up a tree at all .. I work retail and have to deal with to much Christmas Crap as it is …. however … We had this rubber three that died and was sitting on the porch waitint to be disposed of … I took three oranment and hung them on the tree with a piece of tinsel… Looks like Charlie brown has been here and it that will be all the decorating I will do this year…and enough is plenty