According to one holiday song, we are in the midst of “the most wonderful time of the year….”
Hmmm??? Yes and no, I’d have to say. On the one hand, who can deny the positive energy that is palpable as you see lights and decorations going up, songs being sung, festive programs being presented, and parties galore being hosted? Only a real Grinch would deny there are many positive elements to the season.
And yet….isn’t this also one of the most hectic, stressful, and chaotic times of year? Students and professors alike are juggling the demands and deadlines of papers, exams, group projects, and the list goes on. And as if the professional stressors aren’t enough, many are also trying to balance work life with personal and family needs as gift lists get longer and budgets get tighter. There simply aren’t enough hours in the day to accomplish everything on our every growing “to do” list….
What to do, what to do??? Or perhaps the question should be, HOW to do it….. How can we spend these days in the right frame of mind, with a positive perspective? We may not have much control over all that needs to be done right now, but we do have some control over the attitude and spirit in which we approach those tasks and duties.
As Charles R. Swindoll was fond of saying: “The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. . . The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past… The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it. And so it is with you… we are in charge of our Attitudes.”
If we have a stack of cards to write and address, we can do so in gratitude that we are fortunate to have family and friends with whom we connect. If we are busy cooking, baking, and attending many parties, we can be grateful that we will not be going hungry and resolve to reach out to those who are not so fortunate. If we are feeling overwhelmed with the academic crunch this time of year, we might remember that a mere one percent of the human population is fortunate enough to have an education and count our blessings that we have the ability to share our knowledge with those who yearn to learn.
In the coming weeks, may each of us find little moments throughout each day to breathe, to reflect, and to be intentional about the attitude with which we approach this time of year. We may not be able to change what we have to do, but we can positively affect how we do it – and that can make all the difference. Blessings of this special season to all!
Peace,
Anne