Anne Jones – December 2014 Newsletter 2

Dear Member,

If you are in the throes of pre-Christmas stress I have written a Stress, Bah Humbug and Being Care Free Blog! If Christmas isn’t your main festival of the year then keep the blog for your own time of celebration. It’s not that we don’t enjoy our celebrations and family time, it’s that we often find the sense of responsibility, the many calls on our time, the wish to make it as good as it can be and the financial pressure of extra expense all too overwhelming. We know that the purpose is to experience sharing, loving and togetherness with those we love and a chance to focus on others less fortunate – all potentially uplifting and good experiences – but somehow it’s easy to let the emotions run riot with anxiety and frustration that all is not quite as perfect as it could be! Don’t try to be the perfect host, parent or partner – do your best and relax about it. Remember some people are not ready to be happy and whatever you do will not change that!

Another potential elephant trap on the path of a “happy Christmas” is the decision we have to make about who we spend our time with. So many of us have split families and the wish to please all can cause some momentous upsets if all involved are not open minded and open hearted. These special times often bring up fault lines in our relationships and it’s up to us whether we decide to heal them or aggravate them. So I am sending you the best of luck with your pre festive preparations and lots of love and tolerance for the day itself! Keep cool, breathe, don’t try to be perfect and laugh at the disasters in the kitchen – I once dropped the entire bowl of sprouts for my first mother-in-law Christmas into the dish washing water – they cleaned up well and she never knew, although I did laugh at the opportunity of bringing a little soap into her acerbic mouth! Be at ease with yourself and if possible, ha ha, go for the easy path and don’t create dramas or extra challenges for yourself.

Love and hugs and extra special blessings for this fabulous time of caring and sharing, just remember to bring yourself into your circle of love.

Anne xxx