Chestnuts roasting on an open fire, how often do you actually see people doing that these days? As a matter of fact, I have never in my lifetime seen anyone roasting chestnuts. I was born in an era where technology was just beginning to make headway into our lives. The world of black and white television began to show up in every home and constantly, new inventions were being discovered. Because of all this new technology, it seemed as though womens lives were going to become much easier than in the past. Unfortunately, I really dont think that is what has happened. Increased technology, Womens Rights, single-parent families and the growing need to have a two-income family has all but pampered us women. Life in the fast lane in this high-technology world as we know it, seems to have put us in a daily whirlwind and the necessity to keep up with children and meeting their needs is also a never ending daily demand.
Wouldnt it be wonderful if you could rekindle fond holiday memories from your childhood? Also, if you had an awful childhood, maybe you might want to rekindle the warm holiday memories as shown through the television families we grew up with? As you may or may not know, in the 50s there was the Cleaver Family from Leave it to Beaver, the Ricardos from I Love Lucy and also that wonderful family from Father Knows Best. In the 60s there were the families from The Andy Griffith Show, Mary Tyler Moore and Dick Van Dyke. In the 70s th ere was a boom of new television families that pushed their way into American lives which many times gave women the feeling that they were not doing enough for their own families. The children who watched these shows began believing that there may be something wrong in their own homes and that their families were not normal. This began a new generation of children who lived vicariously through the lives of the children they viewed on television each week. Unfortunately, it was apparent that there was a lot of discontentment in the lives of the American population. The family television shows like The Brady Bunch, The Partridge Family, The Jeffersons, The Little House on the Prairie and Happy Days; brought you that feel-good happy family feeling each and every week. Oh, and the Holiday episodes!. Did people really get through the Holiday Season with such ease? Television families seemed to make Thanksgiving and Christmas look so easy, and well, so charming. Whatever ideas wer e formed in our minds as young girls, we took those ideals and grew up with them. Those feelings of inadequacy seem to have increased with our added responsibilities. Then the age of technology hit! For those of you who grew up in the 80s and 90s, your life had already been subjected to the whirlwind of technology, right from birth.
So, what does it take to get back to the basics? Regardless of which era you grew up in, here are a few suggestions as to how you might reduce any self-doubting or negative feelings that you may develop toward yourself during this holiday season. First of all, GIVE YOURSELF A BREAK! You need to take the time to really appreciate yourself for the wonderful person that you truly are. Whether you are married, you have kids or you are single and trying to keep up with your career, you need to take a much-needed break each and every day. Doesnt it seem that as soon as Halloween is over, BOOM! its Thanksgiving, and then Christmas is right around the corner? Then you realize that you dont have your holiday shopping done, you have no idea what gifts to buy, and then out of nowhere you are overwhelmed!! Again, I tell you, take that much needed break. Even if you have to take 30 minutes each day for yourself to get back to the basics of life, I promise you, it can help. Here are a f ew suggestions that you can incorporate into your daily life to bring back the Holiday Magic from your youth.
1. Take 30 minutes, stop at a coffee shop and buy yourself a holiday beverage. You know, the kind with cinnamon and whipped cream? How about a hot apple cider? Spend that time reading short, heart-warming holiday stories that rekindle fond memories. Several womens magazines contain this type of stories starting in October. If reading short stories doesn't do it for you, how about reading one of your favorite holiday childrens books such as Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman or The Night Before Christmas? You would be amazed at how taking just 30 minutes a day to reflect on pleasant and warm memories of days gone by, can bring you back to a place of contentment and relaxation.
2. After a long, hard day, and after meeting the demands of your family, take a nice long bath or shower using scents that bring back fond holiday memories. Some suggestions would be vanilla sugar, vanilla bean, brown sugar and fig, peppermint, sugar and spice, cinnamon and spice. Many body and bath stores have several holiday scents to choose from. After showering or bathing with your favorite holiday scent, drench yourself in a matching lotion or body butter to keep those scents lingering throughout the night.
3. Teas. There are so many wonderful aromatic teas to choose from! When you are finally alone, or in the company of your mate, make yourself a cup of hot decaffeinated tea and just relax! Take 30 minutes on the nights that you choose, and in a relaxed state of mind, create your holiday plan. Make a list of every thing you need to have accomplished each week, until each holiday arrives. If you can stick to the plan, thats great! If you cant, that is okay too. Just re-evaluate as needed to be sure that you know what still needs to be done, and prioritize if necessary. Even if you are not able to stay on track, just knowing ahead of time what needs to be done, you are less likely to be overwhelmed by all the details.
You are a very special woman and it is necessary that you take time for yourself each and every day. You deserve to be pampered, even if you have to take the initiative and do it for yourself. You cannot sit back and wait for someone else to make you feel good. Take the responsibility for your own happiness this holiday season and bring back the Holiday Magic from your youth just 30 minutes or more each day, and you will be amazed at how differently you look at the upcoming hustle and bustle of the holidays.
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Cindy Hamilton was born and raised in Northern California, and now resides in Northern Delaware. As owner and administrator of , Cindy spends a majority of her free time dedicated to helping other women in as many ways as possible.
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