Response to Holiday Blues

I just read an article on the ResumeBear blog and it fit in very well with our philosophy.  The link to the article is at the bottom.

It was titled “Help for the Holiday Blues”.  Yes, the economy sucks and people are out of work, prices are going up, and we don’t have enough money to buy the things we think we want.

The BSOS [Blank Slate Operating System] has taught us that we can become whoever we want to become as long as we work hard and strengthen our weaknesses.

It has also shown us that to be happy and successful all we need to do is buy more things, look like we are successful and we will soon become successful.

BS [Blank Slate] isn’t working anymore for us 99%ers so isn’t it time we got off the merry-go-round and started our own direction, based on who we are, our strengths and our passions.

Now back to the Holiday Blues:

1. Unrealistic expectations during the holidays – I know it’s hard when TV, radio, the Internet, newspapers and catalogs, and other people try to convince us we must have a certain toy or gadget.  We want to give our loved ones what they want.  But ask yourself, do they really want them or do they just think they want them?Look at all of the other toys and gadget that you or they hardly ever use any more.  Think back a few short years ago, how did you ever survive without your cell phone?  My guess is you did quite well.  So do you really need a newer model?  TV’s – yes the new flat screen TVs are nice but do you need one so big it takes up all of the space in the room?  I could go on but I think you get the idea.
2. Financial pressure – this is a big one.  In order to buy all the things you and your family think they “must have” you pull out your credit card, if it is not yet maxed out, and say to yourself – “What is a few extra dollars a month in payments?  I can always cut back somewhere else.”Now I use my credit card all the time, but I never charge more than I can totally pay off when the bill comes due and I keep track of all of my charges to make sure I don’t over spend.  It is hard some months when I see something I really want.  My secret is to just wait 2 days and see if I still want or really need it.  99% of the time I have forgotten about it.
3. Physical and emotional fatigue – I hate Christmas shopping more than having a root canal.  So I don’t do it.  I give gift certificates that I make myself.  For example, I give a card to my wife that says I will do such and such for her by XX date.  Or I give a card that says by XX date I will take her out to dinner or a 2-day vacation.Now, I love Christmas dinner, almost as much as Thanksgiving dinner, lots of food and great company.  Actually the food part can be very simple, even a couple pizzas.  It is the company part that is the most rewarding.  The food is secondary so we don’t suffer from physical and emotional fatigue.
4. Strained family dynamics – this is a big one for me because my family situation is very strained.  I will write more about this tomorrow.  If you say you have no family or friends then volunteer at a homeless shelter.  Whatever you do, do not sit home alone feeling sorry for yourself.
5. Outdated traditions – If you don’t have any family traditions for the holiday season, start some.  That way someday when they become outdated you can modify them.

I love the Christmas season.  I love the music, the decorations, the food the company of good friends, and the beauty of fresh falling snow, if we get lucky.  Plus it is a good time to begin welcoming in the new year.

Perhaps even consider living on 1/3 less than you did this year.  Begin to know yourself better.  Learn what makes you happy and what kind of work you can become passionate about because those are the things that are going to help you get through the next several years that may just be unlike any that you have ever experienced.

Oh, I almost forgot – the article that started me on this journey:

http://blog.resumebear.com/career-book-authors/help-for-the-holiday-blues/

Tags: Blank Slate, Catalogs, Cell Phone, Credit Card, Economy, Ers, Few Short Years, Flat Screen Tvs, Gadget, Guess, Holiday Blues, Holidays, Internet Newspapers, Money, Operating System, Passions, People, Philosophy, Tv Radio, Unrealistic Expectations