Stop for a second

The holidays are about a week away. It seems all my friends updates on Facebook are some version of "need to get christmas cards out," "need to get photocards done," "need to finish shopping," or my favorite "so much to do, how will it ever get done, oy vey!"

Whether you are religous or not, Christmas was never meant to be as materialistic as it has become. And its not just the materialism that's the problem, but its the chaos and everything else associated with the holiday that drive everyone nuts...no wonder the stores have all their Christmas decorations down by Jan. 2, we are so over the holidays because of the angst that we can't appreciate them.

So stop. Take a second and breathe.

The world is not going to come to an end if the cookies aren't perfect or the cards aren't mailed by Dec. 20. Like I said last week, there is absolutely no rule that says you a) must send a family greeting at this time of year and b) that you cannot send said greeting at any other point of the year. The food will get made. The presents will be wrapped. Your great Uncle Merle will get hammered on egg nog and be a scrooge. These are sure things.

Will your 5 year old believe in Santa next year? Hopefully, but who knows so be sure to enjoy it this year.

Will your 87 year old grandmother be with you on her next birthday? Again, hopefully, but just in case spend more time talking to her and less worrying about the French Onion bean dip.

Is anyone going to notice if there are five napkins with bells and three with wreaths? No, and if they do, they are not in the Christmas spirit.

The point is, this holiday has always been about family. Even from the beginning of time, when this was purely a religious holiday, it was about the celebration of the BIRTH of a child. Whoever your family is, whether its your blood relatives or the friends you choose as your family, take this time to appreciate them and let them know you care. But do not allow yourself to get so stressed out in the preparation of this that you wind up making yourselves and those around you sick.