Holiday Hangovers

The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down. Proverbs 14:1 NIV

Do you get the post holiday blues? What does that look like for you?

When I was a kid I made myself a few promises. One of my promises was about the holidays. I promised myself that I would follow my mother’s lead in her commitment to holiday merriment AND I would do it MY way. My mom enjoyed the holidays and modeled well childlike joy in an adult body. But I was also familiar with grown up holiday depression. So one of my promises included a vow that I never wanted my adult hangovers to bring a cloud over my home, my children, my husband. Of course, I have not kept this promise perfectly. It is still a commitment though, and I continue to strive for equanimity in all things. Even the holidays.

In the process, I have learned a few things.

To be continued…

You don't have to be thankful for Thanksgiving

I fully expect to wake up the morning after Thanksgiving and hear about some of my friends’ hangovers. Not the hangover that goes with over-indulging in all its many forms, but one that leaves its mark nonetheless. I’m talking about the post traumatic stress from dashed expectations hangover. You know the one.

We went into Thanksgiving with our marching orders - lead with compassion, lower expectations. Do NOT talk politics. Have an escape plan if the partying gets out of hand. We reviewed our notes from the books, and groups and hopefully a weekend message or two and prepared ourselves for living with our inspired way of seeing while sidestepping the family traditions of mocking and teasing and shaming and fighting that so many of us have experienced in large family gatherings. Some of us may have even opted out of family events, choosing instead our families of choice to break bread with and practice new ways of living among.

Still.

Friday can be a bit of bummer.

What’s up with that? What are you thoughts? I’m curious.