As I flip through the channels on TV, laying in bed, and thinking, I decide to take out my laptop and start writing. I hate how all the movies and sitcoms are about the holidays. You may be reading this and saying, well du-uh Alina, that’s nothing new. Or you maybe reading this and saying, yep and I hate it.
If you are part of the later camp, you are probably crossing off your calendar waiting for January 2nd to come. You are waiting for all this holiday hoopla to pass, so that you can get on with your life again. I mean, the holidays are great….if you have a loving family to celebrate it with. If you have happy places and events to attend. But you are dreading spending a minute longer then you have to with your family, that is, if you are lucky to even have a family to see. You are watching TV and wishing that was you, having dinner with your family, or sitting by the tree exchanging gifts. Instead, you are miserable, depressed, angry, and jealous.
Well, you can sit and stew in these feelings or you can do something about it.
As difficult as it may be, it is the best gift you can give yourself this holiday season.
So get off your butt, your couch, your bed or that comfy chair you just can’t let go off. Fold up your blankie that you got to know so well, it probably needs a wash anyway. In fact, take the time to clean your place, every nook and cranny. That bathroom, shower, microwave, you know what I am talking about. Organize your closet and your dresser drawers. Buy a new paper lining for your drawers and while you are re-organizing, take all the clothes and shoes that you have not worn in the last 12 months and put it in the old shopping bag. Look on-line for the closest women’s shelter and drop off your old stuff for them. You will make many women happy this holiday season and get a tax break.
After you clean and organize your home, get back on-line, and find local groups. I love meetup.com. Find local group of women who are going through the same life event you are. Select a few groups who have scheduled upcoming events and RSVP.
If you are in the San Francisco Bay Area, great groups I recommend are “Self Care for Women” and “Louise Hay Love Yourself Heal Your Life Transformation Group”. But there are plenty more out there, it depends on what you want to do, but do something. “Gals who like movies”, “The Breakfast Club”, etc. And go out there and socialize. This is the end of the year, not the end of your life. Make it beginning of your life. Now you will have something to look forward to after your visit with the family.
As I turn off the TV, I decide to call a girlfriend and ask her as the year comes to an end, what is her biggest fear. She said “complaining about the same thing this time next year”. Well, don’t let this be you. You can sit there with your blankie and remote control, or you can make next year a new experience of your life.
