Christmas Countdown

Okay -- it's a few days until Christmas. And maybe you woke up this morning feeling a little under-appreciated. It's just possible you spent too much time and money on presents for the undeserving. And with butter over $3/lb. -- how much did it cost to make all those Christmas cookies?....not to mention the money and effort involved in a big ham/turkey/prime rib dinner. Do any of your guests realize the grocery store bill is HUNDREDS of dollars?? And do they ever thank you for standing in the kitchen 8-10 hours a day??

Not likely. For many of my friends, Christmas is wearing a little thin...

Here's my point. Whatever you do at this time of year -- you need to do it because it brings YOU joy. Happiness is an inside job...IF you are doing something you enjoy....something that makes YOU smile...do it because you love doing it...

I have laughingly told people that at the Farro house -- the Christmas entertainment of FIVE adults has landed squarely on the head of one little blond toddler. Really...me, John, Ross, Elliott and Emily will be sitting around the tree on Christmas morning, saying, "here, Lilly -- open this one now..." We all want OUR gift to be her favorite...

It's really not fair, y'know? She's just one little girl...who didn't ask to be the center of attention. When she came here, she didn't realize what a huge responsibility she'd be carrying...or how hard it would be to live up to all these Christmas Expectations...

And sometimes -- things simply do not work out. You need to know when to MOVE ON. Take this adorable little stuffed white dog I gave Lillian last year. She loved it. Sophie thought she had a new sister. Then it started to shed. The first time I had to remove fur from the baby's mouth -- I tossed the dog right in the trash...


The most important word in your holiday vocabulary should be -- NEXT...

Don't sit around lamenting the fact that things aren't the same this year. Change happens. It's part of life. Acknowledge what isn't working and accept it. Move on. If your kids decided to go to Disneyworld this year, invite a neighbor or friend over for a game of Mexican Train dominoes. do something YOU enjoy. Be flexible. Also -- consider what Christmas might like for other people this year. It can be the loneliest day of the year...

Think about your co-workers, neighbors, cousins, sisters, old friends. A call from you could make a big difference in somebody's life...especially on this day....

And if your day still sucks -- EAT SOME CHOCOLATE. Then -- remember -- it's really just ONE DAY....

N - E - X - T..........