The Holiday Season and Christmas Time

     I like the Holiday season...it has always been fun...even when I was growing up and my parents didn't have much money, they always tried to do their best for my brother and I. Being born into an Italian family there was always plenty of food and, having to visit both of my parents family's resulted in the equivalent of a two to three day Viking Feast...Gifts were exchanged, my father was Santa Claus and every one had fun. I'm sure there was some stress for the women who all of the shopping and cooking but they never showed it. Quiet frankly, I don't think their stress level was ever to high during the Holidays...In retrospect, I don't recall seeing any signs or behaviors exhibited by them indicative of being over stressed. True, these were different times but so what, the Holidays are what you make of them...In the past people ruled the media...you watched TV if you wanted to... you listened to the radio if you wanted too. There wasn't any Black Friday. Now people seemed to have let the media become their masters. Shop, Shop Shop...is all you see on the TV and even the news...Colorful advertisements, images of people flooding the Malls...a constant chatter in your head..."we have to get so and so these gifts and the stores might run out"..."So and so are coming over, will I have enough food," This is not what the Holiday Season is about...My favorite aunt used to say, " Charity Starts At Home." Now it wasn't that she didn't give to others but before everyone else was considered, she took care of her own family. There is nothing wrong with that...and if it is only your own family that you can take care of, then that's fine...there shouldn't be any guilt, pressure or illnesses precipitated by the Holiday Season. There should only be fun...and enjoying those that are around you. Saying, "Have a Nice Holiday" or "Happy Holidays," to others should be the most pressure you have to put on you self...So, I say, Have a Nice Holiday...with an emphasis on Nice.