345 A HOLIDAY PLAN TO DECOMPRESS OR ... EXPLODE!

If
The holidays offer
A time to feel
A time to emote
A time to exhaust
A time to reflect


Then
After the holidays pass
Is it not wise
To consider traditions
Which may be in need of change
Next year?


Each year, the holidays expose
A kaleidoscope of emotions
Swirling up and down
Like roller coasters
Which pick up the pace
Until our minds run out of steam ...


As that happens, year after year 
I'll encourage myself
To put on the brakes
In hopes of stopping My emotional engine
From bouncing and juggling so many balls
That I can't keep up with whatever I expect of myself, next!


Though your mind and mine may fare well
When balancing emotion and logic, day to day
There are times when LIFE bounces us so many balls
That self control gets too overwhelmed to juggle them all
And thus have I been teaching myself to consciously choose
Which balls to bounce or juggle—or not!


If you ask how I choose
Which balls to bounce, which to juggle
And which to turn loose
Here's what I'd say:
If a tradition makes me feel warm and cozy
I keep it close by


If certain traditions make me feel
Cold and prickly and resentful
Common sense suggests
Turning those traditions loose–at least for this year
Each time I remember to embrace flexibility
I free myself to choose balls to bounce, juggle or turn loose!


When I remember to embrace this new plan of action ...
I free myself to jump off of a merry-go-round
That spins so fast
I'd need two heads, four hands
And six legs
To get everything done!


If you ask me to pinpoint
The most relaxing aspect
Of adopting such a flexible plan, I'd reply:
I can best encourage
The spirit of giving to ring true
By giving myself a much needed break!


Each time I give myself the gift of sanity
I can consciously calm my mind
And once I feel calm—deep inside
I watch myself become a calming presence
Who is apt to give the best side of me
To everyone I love!


In order for this sense of flexibility to meet with success
I need to acknowledge a fact that's hard to accept:
You see, I want to make LIFE feel magical
In every way for everyone—but here's the catch:
I've yet to find a magic wand that works that way!
So, placing magic to one side ...


I offer my loved ones four 'presents'
Which encourage every heart to rejoice, together, in peace:
I offer my loved ones the 'presence' of my patience and smile
I offer my loved ones the presence' of a sane mind and buoyant spirit
And as human vulnerability is accepted as a given
I accept vulnerability, which abounds on all sides
And hopefully, little by little, one step at a time ...
Generosity of spirit will bounce naturally, back and forth! 



Needless to say
'Tomorrow' never fails to offer us
'Unknowns'
And that's why I'll choose to place my faith
In this uplifting thought
For right now:


Once this holiday whirlwind winds down:

I'll reflect over traditions in need of retiring or retuning
And by reconsidering traditions in need of change
I'll save my mind from turning into a human pressure cooker in need of release

And if you like this idea and give me a heads up reminder
I'll post holiday tips for minimizing anxiety
Before Thanksgiving draws near—next year!

JHappy Everything, my friends!
Oops!  Just dropped another ball!  Oh well!
Annie