SHOW DESCRIPTION

The holidays are a time of rejoicing for many, and a time of frustration for others. How you view the holidays will tell you a lot about your mindset. I find that there are two camps of people in the holidays; the Carolers, and the Humbuggers. Each has their own view of the holiday season and each reacts differently to them.

Carolers are excited and happy for the holidays. They listen to Christmas music, they feel happy when they see decorations, and love going through the retail stores and looking at their holiday displays. The positive feelings and happy memories are always on their mind.

Humbuggers can’t stand the holidays. They look at the negatives and get frustrated by them. Their experience is hindered because they will focus on the commercialism, the traffic, the inconveniences and the busy schedules.

Not everyone has happy memories of the holidays. They might have been abused as children. They might have had a financially challenging childhood where there weren’t a lot of gifts and their families might have been constantly fighting. People in these situations tend to grow up hating the holidays because they see other people happy and feel that they have missed out.

A time of year, or a specific holiday are not to blame for the experiences a person has had. However horrible the holiday season might have been in the past for you, you can still find enjoyment in them now. If you don’t have happy memories of the holidays, make some. Start fresh by making some new memories and traditions with friends. Find a way to keep your mind on the positive message of any holiday and you won’t even notice the negative side anymore. You will see your mood brighten and your outlook lift. Set a new tradition for your personal life as well. It can help you find a way to view things in a more positive light. I reread a book that I grew up reading and remember the time I met the author and fell in love with his stories. It helps me keep things in perspective and clears my mind of negative feelings during a stressful time of year.

Get together with some friends and set some group traditions. Rohit Rohila and I go out on a shopping trip every year. It is always a different place and we always experience new things. Sometimes we bring others with us and sometimes it is just us guys. We might not even buy anything, but we always go out and just hang out.

The holidays are not just a time of rejoicing and good food. They are also a time for reflection. Take this time to reflect on your year. Write down some of the things that have made you happy this year. Review that list of happiness and keep it I your heart. Happiness in the holidays can spread if you keep it alive.