Start a diet.

2

Try to be everything to everybody at all times.

3

Glue glitter on everything. Keep getting little pieces in your eye, especially while driving in holiday traffic.

4

Visit a mall. Then a big box store. Then go back to the mall for something you forgot. Be sure and grab something to eat in the food court and eat really fast while sitting under florescent lighting listening to Christmas carols.  Don’t drink any water all day while you shop.

5

Handcraft hundreds of intricate holiday cards that involve more glitter and long handwritten notes. Send to everyone you have ever met. Go to the post office during the busiest time and stand in line for hours to buy cute holiday stamps.

6

Compete with your neighbors to see who can put up the most elaborate holiday decorations. Make multiple trips to the hardware store for replacement bulbs.

7

Eat massive amounts of holidays confections. Be sure and eat the most sugary ones with coffee before breakfast several days in a row and then (because you started a diet), don’t eat anything until dinner.  Be amazed at your mood swings and memory loss.

8

Fret frequently about what you are going to give _______ and _______ . When you decide, spend more than you can afford.

9

Stay up late many nights doing any or all of the above.

10

Say yes to every party, recital, play, Nutcracker, caroling, gift exchange, latke-frying, sleigh-slooshing invite. Or pout because you didn’t get any.

11

Keep trying to run your business /do your work, write your book, exercise, keep your relationships healthy, be politically active, find the true meaning of the holidays, and oh yeah, stay on that diet.

Wait… I have to extract my tongue from my cheek…

I really only have one thing to say about the holidays: This year, choose what you want to do – not what any article says nor what you did last year nor what your grandmother did in 1889 and certainly not what you think you should do.  Find your beautiful and imperfect way.

I know, you probably already do but I thought I’d state the obvious. I’m good at that.

(Oh and if I gave you an anxiety attack with this list, you might want to check out the Mood Changers and Comfort Wishes or one of my calming and comforting books, still on sale.)