Ah, the holidays! For years, I felt that my family never saw the best of me because I was always so stressed and overwhelmed. I took on too much, wanting everything to be perfect. The gifts, the decorations, the activities, the family time.  It was as if I wanted to spend time with loved ones on the set of our very own Hallmark movie. And, boy, isn't that a ton of work!? Waking up on January 2, I'd think, “Wait for a second! Where were my happy holidays?!”

Never Too Late – Start Now

So I suggest we make our New Year's resolution a bit early for next year and promise to remember that this is our holiday, too! Think about your holiday goals now so that you can plan for them and be part of having a (great) holiday season for these last few days of this year and for next year too! Consider how you want to spend this last week of 2022.

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Take a few minutes to set intentions:

• How do you want to feel on January 2?
• What do you want to remember?
• What are your priorities?
  • Spending time with your family?
  • Seeing the smile on your kids' faces as they take in the New Year and other holiday celebrations?
  • Connecting with your spiritual community?

Here's the deal: no one knows what holidays are “supposed” to look like except you.

If you don't have a Martha Stewart table setting or the “right” bottle of wine, no one will know – or care! They'll remember laughing at the table, taking a walk to see lights, or hearing Uncle John's favorite joke for the 457th time.

So keep the good times rolling, make priceless memories, and have a happy holiday season – by cultivating the moments that mean something to you. So you can wake up feeling wonderful on January 2!