When Life Gives You Crap, Don't Just Make Lemonade, Make Egg Nog and Sing Carols

Photo by Aaron Burden, unsplash.com

The holidays are here and with that comes the joy of magical festivities, the sweet sound of Christmas carols,  beautiful lit streets with the wet reflections of bright lights, and...oh yes, I almost forgot...spending time with family. 

I'm going to be frank here, because that's what I do best. It isn't always blossoms and butterflies during the holidays especially when you have multitudes of diverse personalities in a cramped room, sipping on egg nog, and attempting to make small talk. Come on folks, they don't make those ridiculous family holiday movies every year for nothing.

Where am I going with this? 

My 2017 holiday season didn't started out the way I hoped however I have had some time to think about it and the older I get the more I realize what my very wise Aunt has been trying to teach me since I was young:

• Spend genuine time with the people you love being around and who love being around you.

• Less stress, less sickness and this will keep you healthy and happy.

• Exclude toxicity, you can pray for those types and meditate on compassion but keep it out.

• You don't owe anyone, anything.

• Surround yourself with positivity, whether it's that one friend, coloring a damn meditation book, running around with a cape on your back chasing your toddler, or cuddling with your dog, just surround yourself with it.

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(Yoda Aunt Becky, wise she is.)

The most important thing that crossed my mind while experiencing this less than ideal beginning of the holiday season: so many people in the world have way worse situations than me. Although it may not always be blossoms and butterflies, I definitely live a Life full of them. I personally know people who've lost loved ones a week before Thanksgiving so now they're forced to experience their 2017 holiday season never seeing the people they love and care for again. 

So in the grand scheme of things, who cares that something didn't work out the way I hoped. I am breathing, living, happy, painting, dancing, and damn excited for a magical Christmas morning.

Happy Holidays and when the holidays get you down, drink some egg nog and sing your heart out to Christmas carols and just remember, there are some people sleeping outdoors with nothing left. (But you can be that person to make them smile.) 

Peace and Joy,
​Sterp