Relax and Enjoy the Moments that Matter By Holly Firfer
I
t was mid-August and I was making my quarterly Costco trip to reload toilet paper & raw almonds supplies when I was stopped in my tracks. Near the entrance was a giant blow up pumpkin, a skeleton with light up eyes and (gasp!) Halloween costumes! I started to break out into a cold sweat, NOT because it was 97 degrees out, but because the holidays were coming, and I felt unprepared. It was only August, but those companies selling holiday goods know how to work a crowd. Now I was panicked because Thanksgiving was fast approaching. We’ve all seen those Norman Rockwell paintings and watched Hallmark movies where the whole family is perfectly coiffed, dressed and all seem to like each other. But no matter how hard I tried, my holiday meals never looked even remotely close. It’s not like I didn’t try. Oh, I bought fake leaves and gold trimmed napkin holders to decorate the table and even created a Spotify playlist that “felt like fall”. But when you forget to take the frozen 19lb turkey out to defrost on Monday, you’ll end up spending an hour and a half on Thanksgiving Day with a blow dryer aimed at places on a bird that should be illegal. I know I’m not alone. The American Psychological Assn. reports more Americans say they feel stressed around the holidays, rather than relaxed while enjoying some time off. Even if you make it through Thanksgiving relatively unscathed, more holidays are right around the corner. You barely have time to put away the matching Pilgrim salt & pepper shakers before your kids are begging for a tree. When I was younger, shopping for holiday gifts was actually fun. I would spend hours walking through the mall admiring all the new fashions and gadgets, grabbing a mocha latte and an Auntie Annie’s pretzel while enjoying that piped in holiday Muzak. Now I pull up every Instagram photo I can find with a full body shot to estimate what size my best friend from college wears so I can send her something from Amazon. One year I was so paralyzed by fear that I waited too long and had to find something in my house as a “gift” for Aunt Vera. The only thing she had ever commented on was her love for my $400 Kitchen Aid Mixer and my dog. (I hope she liked the tiny ballerina figurine I won at a county fair in 1986 that I sent her).
As my anxiety started to build, something strange happened somewhere between the 1000 count package of batteries and fleece pajama sets (yes, it was still August) that was like a message from the Universe sitting atop of the piles and piles of books. The cover of the book “Frozen” was glaring at me like it could read my mind, for it was then that I heard the incredible Idina Menzel singing in my head “Let it go, Let it go, That perfect girl is gone”. As I perused the wines and headed over to frozen foods, I realized that I was never perfect although I tried to be, and even though I was so worried about making everything look like an episode of “This Is Us”, inevitably something was going to go sideways. So, I quickly did some research and found tips to keep that holiday stress at bay: Plan Ahead, no one needs to be making 17 trips to Publix because it just wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without that jiggle cranberry log. Maintain Healthy Habits, when I look around my house and realize 3 inches of dog hair and year old magazines lying around need to be cleaned, I don’t immediately grab my Cabernet in a Can, but instead go for a quick walk to get my blood pumping and energy up to come home and grab that vacuum cleaner that’s been sitting in the closet since the Obama administration. Create Relaxing Surroundings, so when I am frantically searching online for the perfect gift for my nephew, the whiff of that lavender candle will prevent me from giving up and getting him Underoos, yet again (did I mention he is 19?). Be Realistic, there’s no way my house is going to look like Martha Stewart’s perfectly decorated mansion, even if I splurged and bought the fancy Hannukah candles instead of digging out used birthday ones. And...Take A Break, if the napkins aren’t perfectly folded into charming snowflakes it doesn’t matter, it’s better you take the five minutes to peruse Gawker online to see why Ramona might be quitting the ‘Real Housewives’. So, as I prepare to spend time with my family and friends this season, I am going to try to relax and enjoy the moments that matter. And I think I will start by enjoying that 15lb bag of candy just a few months early!
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Holly is an Emmy nominated journalist who you may have seen covering anything from hurricanes to celebrity trials, campaign trails and sporting events for CNN as well as a national correspondent for CNN’s Health Unit. She made a name for herself here locally by hosting CBS Radio’s DaveFM, “Music Mornings with Holly Firfer” and was a co- host on NBC’s daily talk show, “Atlanta & Company”. Holly has also appeared on the big screen many times including “Flight” with Denzel Washington and “Devil’s Knot” with Reese Witherspoon.
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