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Did you know stress and depression can ruin your holidays and your health?
Big duh!
Why do we put so much pressure on ourselves? Why does everything have to be done to perfection? Why do we have to spend so much, for so little pleasure?
This year we had some family health problems, and I decided I wasn't going to get out all my decorations. After our cruise we agreed not to spend as much. Since I had lots of stress getting everything ready for the church services, I told Dave he was in charge of Christmas dinner. And after trying to cope with laryngitis for almost three weeks, I finally called the doctor for an antibiotic.
And you know what? It worked.
No, it didn't alleviate all the stress of the season. But it did make things better.
Now the worst is over and I can just chill.
yay
What is it about the first snowfall that excites us, that brings back that sense of childlike wonder? Even the most jaded, the most inured to snow has to admit to that little frisson of elation as those first frosty flakes fall.
I was thinking about that today as I drove up to my mom's. We only had some wet snow mixed in with the rain in South Jersey, and it melted the moment it hit the ground. But as soon as I headed north out of Philadelphia, the ground was white, and the foothills of the Pennsylvania mountains were a winter wonderland.
I can think of at least three reasons I love the snow. First, it's a silent surprise. Unlike rain or wind or other weather phenomena, the snow falls without sound. You can be sitting around reading or watching TV or doing whatever you like and all of a sudden you look out the window... OMG! It's snowing! Even when you're expecting it, it's still a thrill.
Second, it's pure, covering all the ugliness of reality with pristine whiteness. Yeah, I know, it probably picks up all kinds of pollutants from our tainted atmosphere, and it certainly isn't pretty after it's been sitting on the side of the road for a few days. But that initial fall of virginal white sparkling in the sun makes my heart swell.
Third, snow is beautiful. 
Every snowflake is unique and wonderful, a lacy filigree of crystals forming a work of art. I realize it's science, a matter of chemistry, air currents, temperature, humidity and so on. Still, I can't help but imagine God looking down after creating the first snowflake and saying, "Oooh, pretty!"
Silent, pure, beautiful. That's what I think.
What do you think?
Anybody remember the book Simple Abundance by Sarah Ban Breathnach? Subtitled A Daybook of Comfort and Joy, it's a book of daily readings designed to help you appreciate your life.
When the book was first published back in 1995, I joined a lot of people I know and read it daily. One of its recommendations is to keep a gratitude journal, listing every day five things you're thankful for. Focusing on what we have, rather than what we don't have, is a way of bringing contentment to our lives.
By nature I'm a bitcher, a whiner, a glass-half-empty kind of person. And I like it that way.
But then I look at my mother, a bitcher, and my mother-in-law, a whiner. They both drive me crazy. I don't want to drive people crazy. At least, not because I'm so annoying.
So, even though it's not the New Year yet, I'm making a resolution. No more bitching. No more whining. I'm going to cultivate an attitude of gratitude. When I really stop and think about it, my life is full of wonderful things--my family, my friends, my church family, my home, even my ten-year-old car, which runs great and gets terrific gas mileage.
My friends won't recognize me anymore. But maybe I'll find contentment.
How long do you think it'll be before I forget this Thanksgiving resolution and go back to bitching and whining? A month? A week? A day?
Five minutes?
I'm working on it.
Travel Diary Day 16
Saturday, November 7
Made it back to Newark and found the car there, safe and sound. Now at Molly's house, will probably spend the night here and head back to South Jersey tomorrow.
The pic on the right is one of the cool 
van taxis they have in Barcelona. Love the van--fits four big suitcases and four big adults plus driver. Some odd make, but I wish I could get one when I trade in my venerable old Camry.
I want to sum up the trip in some profound manner, but I'm just too tired. All I can do is quote Dorothy... There's no place like home.
zzzzzzzzz....
Travel Diary Day 15
Friday, November 6
Okay, that's just a joke, because when we arrived at our hotel in Barcelona we found our rooms were numbered 001 and 002. We're just like Bond... James Bond.
We had another beautiful day in Barcelona, perfect cloudless blue skies and clear air, though a little chilly. We headed straight for the Bus Tursitic and rode it to Montjuic, one of the mountains that borders the city. For about eight Euros each we got round trip tickets 
for the Teleferic, the cablecar that takes you up the mountain to Montjuic Castle.
The castle is more like a fort, with cannons and everything, and was built on the site of a former fort. We walked along the top of the walls and got amazing views of the city and the port.
What a gorgeous city. My new plan is to move here and learn Spanish and just explore Barcelona. 
Of course I'd have to take up smoking, because everyone smokes here, and get skinny, because everyone is skinny here.
Hmm, maybe not such a great plan after all.
But I'm thinking about it.
Did you know stress and depression can ruin your holidays and your health?
