Are you starting to get that feeling?
Christmas around the corner, and still so much to plan, to do, to buy?
What about the seating plan? No-one wants to sit next to weird Uncle Gary, and Cousin Jo has recently to converted to (insert whatever religion you find offensive) and so is the black sheep?
But this year, it's all going to be different, right?
You'll get organised better, earlier, and this time, everyone will get along, the food will be perfect, and anyway, it should be all ok as long as there is enough booze.
What could possibly go wrong? I mean apart from the all stuff that has been going wrong every single year before this one?
Well, maybe we're approaching this whole "festive season" the wrong way.
According to my favourite blogger, the equation for happiness is pretty simple:
Happiness = Results minus Expectations.
And what happens at Christmas time?
Well, for one we expect things to go according to (a very ambitious) plan.
Then we expect to get along with people we barely see (if at all) the rest of the year (mostly because we don't like them that much).
And to make sure it all goes pear-shaped, we add copious amounts of alcohol to the mix.
So basically we expect the best case scenario, and feel cheated if a less ideal scenario gets played out - despite having lived through all sorts of stuff-ups, from average to full-blown shit-storm the previous years.
So, how can we turn this around?
How can we, for once, make the festive season a time for love, understanding and joy instead of resentment, stress, sadness and anger?
We could start by reducing our expectations.
Simplifying the menu so it's quick and easy to cook, and we could do it in our sleep.
Inviting only the people that we will actually be happy to see.
Reducing the gift-giving to only the most meaningful people in our life, so buying presents is about finding something to really give joy, rather than an obligation.
Spending less of our money, and more of our time.
And most importantly, finding compassion inside us, so we can forgive others for not fulfilling our expectations, even on Christmas day.
Have a peaceful and loving holiday.