Recipe for a Happy Christmas

By ALICE O’BRIEN Alice O’Brien Counselling, Newmarket

The end of the year is upon us. We are cleaning the chimneys getting ready for a visit from the man in red. Jolly tunes are playing in all the shops and decorative lights are twinkling. It is the time of the year when our expectations soar; We expect to have the table full of food like the supermarket adverts, we expect our homes to look like a catalogue, we expect our children not to complain when asked to wear matching pyjamas (and the hubbie too!) and we expect ourselves to be a picture of joy for the whole season. And what’s the biggest recipe for disappointment- it is when our expectations become high and too far away from our reality.

So, how do we enjoy Christmas in a more realistic way- well, we need to manage our expectations better. Here's a few ways to do that;

• Talk openly to family and friends about gift-giving and budgets. Rather than being under pressure to reach unrealistic expectations- plan events like family meet-ups, movie nights or more cost- effective ways to enjoy the season.

  • Stop comparing your family Christmas to what you see around you. All families are different and prioritise different things. Set your values and enjoy them, spending time together is the same regardless of the matching pyjamas.

  • Practice gratitude. If you have a warm home, healthy children and a caller or two- you are lucky.

  • Take some time for yourself over the festive season- visit the Island Wood at least once for a lap in the beautiful surroundings.

  • Breathe- it’s only a few days. It will pass and we will have the Spring to look forward to.

As 2024 comes to a close, I would like to thank Tadhg, Caleb and all in Discover Duhallow for looking after me so well during the year- and of course, everyone who has asked me “are you the girl who writes the articles?” There is always something very special about being called a girl. Have a happy, safe and peaceful Christmas and New Year.