Holiday Shopping...The good, bad, and the ugly!

Well we have arrived! This is the beginning of the holiday shopping season. For some this brings joy and excited anticipation, and for some it brings dread. We have all seen the ugly on the news and Facebook over the weekend. Fights breaking out, people taking items out of the hands of children, pushing, yelling, and overall chaos. People acting as if their lives depended on getting what ever it was they were fighting over. It is the ugliest part of the season, I want...I want...I want.

The bad part of the season is a bit lighter than the ugly. It is the lines, the traffic, the debt, and the rush that makes us lose sight of all of the reasons we love the season. Horns are honking in the parking lots. Pushing and irritation are occurring as the lines get longer at each store. Our todo list is long and our time is short. When we finally sit down after all is said and done after the holiday, we can't seem to really remember all the little moments that lead up to it.

So, the good... The smell in the air. All of the beautiful lights and music in the stores. The smiles on your loved ones faces. The spirit of giving. What we love about the holidays. Why we celebrate the holidays. Why we exchange gifts. If we can keep things in perspective, then the holidays hold so much joy!

A few ways to keep the Joy in the season:

-Giving and receiving gifts is a wonderful thing, but do it from your heart and not your wallet. It is the thought behind the gift, not the price tag, that brings joy to the receiver.

-Shop with others. Enjoy a day with your friend or spouse! Get a coffee, take your time, and have fun.

-Give yourself grace. There is no such thing as perfect, so enjoy the imperfections! The cookies look funny...ok! The sweater was the wrong size...they can return it. It's ok if the details are a bit off, sometimes that makes room for more laughter!

-Give to those who really need it. Donate your time and/or money to those in need. It will make such a difference in their holiday season and you won't be able to keep that joy from warming your own heart.

-Enjoy the moments. Leave some room in your schedule to actually enjoy the moments. You don't need to go to every party. You don't need to volunteer for every event. Say "yes" to what truly means something to you and then be present in the moment and enjoy your time!

Wishing you all a very Happy Holiday Season. May your time be filled with joy and wonderful memories made this Holiday!

-Cheers to the One Amazing You!