I don't know about you, but I'm starting to get that feeling that I get every year around this time.  You know the one...if you are ahead of me you are already getting wiggy about the upcoming holiday season.  Maybe you are stressed out about getting Thanksgiving dinner on the table.  Maybe, like me at this very moment, you are planning on getting your carpets cleaned.  (Whatever they are using to clean my carpets is totally annoying my eyes/nose at the moment. This can't be healthy for these guys who do this day in and day out.)  You are thinking about holiday decorations, greeting cards, presents, school concerts, outfits.  The list is endless.

Every year I think if I can just get enough stuff done early enough then I won't have to get stressed out.  And every year I seem to do a little better at this.  I put my holiday lights up (but not on yet) last week when it was still mild out.  I've already ordered and received my holiday cards.  A couple of years ago I typed in all the addresses of the people on my Christmas card list so that all I have to do is make some revisions each year and print out the list on labels.  I've managed to keep my house tidy enough so that when I host Thanksgiving dinner next week it shouldn't take all that long to clean.

Yet every year, no matter how prepared I am, the other shoe always drops at some point.  One minute I am fine and then the next minute I feel the stresses of the holidays come on.  I always think that this year will be the year it won't happen.  Adding to my potential anxiety-triggers this year is the fact that my children will be visiting out-of-town relatives with their dad which always makes the holidays a little more difficult for me. 

It was with all this in mind that I came across an interesting e-mail in my in-box this morning talking about not letting the stress of the holiday season get to you this year.  It is from this organization called "The scream free life" and though I think that title is kind of hokey, the articles that this woman writes are really interesting and seem to resonate with me, more often than not. So I can't quite get myself to unsubscribe from their mailing list.

Anyways, if you have a moment, click here.  I'm going to try a few of her tips and hope that this will be the year I buy into the true meaning of the season and not the stress of the season as well.