Don't Should All Over Yourself

How to Stay Positive in a “Challenging” World

I’m sure this Christmas does not have the same “Wow” factor of Christmas’s past. We may not have had as many presents, or as expensive of presents, and we begin to think that this was a “bad” Christmas. In the book Psalms it states “out of the mouth of babes”, and we now use this quote as being childlike simplicity. Oftentimes, we adults tend to complicate matters, and seeing life through the eyes of a child can put a perspective on things that we think matters.

Spending Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with my two grandchildren ages 2 ½ and 11 months tended to do this for me. They did not know it was a special day, they did not know about the presents, they were just happy being with their family. Grandparents visiting and Dad did not have to go to work meant more play time. Nap schedules got messed around with, meals were different, “I want chicken nuggets” instead of turkey.

This reminded me of the debates about commercialism of our holidays versus the true meaning of each one. It reminded me again, that I am my own worst enemy. I put thoughts into my own head of what I should do and what I should be. As my mother has said a number of times, if I keep this up I will be “shoulding” on myself. My mind, my family, my life, and my work, is all about perspective. In this case it is about my perspective about myself. I am happy because I choose to be happy. Why not join me?