Just like that October is over…. Halloween is here and you would probably agree that the past 10 months went by way too quickly. Thanksgiving is coming and then there’s Christmas. If just the thoughts of these days coming is sending your brain on a whirlwind you are not alone. In fact I’m sure some of us might have already had an anxiety attack or two over it.
Now I urge you to stop, to take a deep breath and look around you. The chaos or panic that your brain might have just created is just that, it’s in your head. I try not to let that slight fear or panic escape my head. I try to limit my social media and pinterest surfing just so I don’t overwhelm myself with what everyone else is doing, has or is getting. This is also a great time to write out a too blessed to be stressed list. My list have stayed pretty consistent throughout the year. It usually start with family and ends with food. Below is the start of my too blessed to be stressed list this year.
- My husband, kids and I are all healthy. We are not fighting any diseases or long term sickness right now.
- My husband still has a job and all our bills are paid on time.
- We have a roof over our head and our own beds to sleep in.
- There is FOOD in all our bellies, in the fridge and in the pantry.
- We have CLEAN clothes to wear and shoes on our feet.
- My 12 year old car is still GOING.
- I am still able stay at home with my kids, volunteer at their school and attend their events.
- We have everything our family NEEDS.
It’s so easy to get caught up with the holidays, to want to be the giver of the silly grins on our kids faces but sometimes being content on what we already have can help eliminate all or any extra stress we might soon be feeling. I volunteer with my kids all the time to help them remember how fortunate they really are. We spend time helping feed people with St. Vincent de Paul’s kitchen or packing food for Feed my Starving Children. When we do our annual closet clean out for clothes/shoes that don’t fit we donate it to the foster kids that shop at Helen’s Closet. When we go on trips we take all the mini toiletries and save it to donate to Men’s shelter in Mesa. We have made blankets for sick babies in the NICU and baked cookies for the families visiting their dying love ones at the Hospice of the Valley.
So as you start to worry, fret and worry some more about the holidays, please stop. Look around you and find something anything to show truly see how blessed you really are. There is always, always something to be thankful for. Look for the good even if it’s just one thing because one can become two and two becomes three and before you know it you will be smiling to. I hope you make it a great day. Don’t stress over the things we have no control over, like Christmas it’s coming whether we like it or not!
Xoxo,
Roe Perkett
