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Good morning and Happy Holidays.  As we enter into the the rush before Christmas I thought of how easy it is to get stressed. Please stay tuned for this weeks Podcast called Clear Out the Stress at  Mini Miracles from Minor Moments.

Although there are no guests  this week, this 10 minute Podcast is filled with some suggestions to help you navigate your way through the next 4 weeks.

(Music – “Rome’s Jingle”)

Hi, this is your host, Linda Gullo.  Hopefully you were able to listen to this Podcast and enjoy last weeks visit with Mrs. Claus. If you recall, she told us about Humphrey the Elf who was her driver that day, and the fun all the Elves have up at the North Pole between their chores.  She already was worried about Santa and his cookie addiction. Many like Santa will be dieting following the Holidays, but we all need to follow the examples of the Elves who love to exercise.

Mrs. Claus was a delight and in such good humor for this busy time of year.  We all need to follow her example, but it can be hard when we have so many more demands and stresses placed upon us.  It is just that people are rushed during the Holidays.  Everyone is trying to get so much done whether it is decorating, entertaining, or buying last minute gifts.

So here we are at the entering into the 3rd weekend of the Advent Season. It is meant to be joy filled, but I can tell  you that for so many people it is a nerve racking time!  Financially people are feeling stressed.  Yesterday I opened over a dozen requests for money from agencies all over the country.  How do you feel when that sort of mail comes your way?

These requests were among the normal monthly bills that I had to respond to and I wondered if other people found that frustrating.  We’d all like to be Santa for those in need, but our budgets don’t always stretch to accommodate helping everyone financially.

So the first suggestion I have for you today is to stay connected with reality.   Yes I said reality!  There are plenty of other times the we can be generous throughout the year.  Put those request envelopes aside for a month when times are less stressful.

Often families feel stressed with loud uncles or quirky relatives.  Parties are thrown where some will drink too much liquor.  Moderation is sometimes lost in the moment.  Anger and anxiety multiplies.  Removing yourself from the mix is often best.  It’s important to have good self talk and avoid the pitfalls!

The Holidays should be joyful for all of us; young and old.  Enjoy connecting with your friends.  January can be a quiet and lonely month of year.  It is an awesome season to have a few laughs with friends.  So make a few phone calls to wish your best to others and make a date to get together after the official holidays end.  So yes, the 2nd idea here is to put some things on delay.   Postponing a few things can be good.

I really enjoy getting the “late cards” from friends.   It is a treat to get that note after all the excitement has died down.  I have a few cards that are on my desk.  I need to write a note in them and decided that if they are late it is okay.  I’d rather make a concerted effort to send something of value in terms of writing a thoughtful note.

My husband mentioned the 3rd suggestion.  It is music.  He claims it is music that relieves the stress for him.  He always had smooth jazz or the Big Band sounds playing in the car.  Lately he listens to classical music on the computer.   A beautiful instrumental can make things calmer whether it is in the car, office, or home.  Sometimes a 10 minute break of just quiet helps too.   Even when our home is busy with out of town guests, a few quiet minutes alone in the late evening sitting with our dog is terrific.  Maybe it will help you too to try these simple ideas.  Music can also bring up the spirits and get us moving to the beat.

Moving to music is also a great form of exercise.   Even gentle stretching or a walk through a big box store helps us to stay centered.  Our focus becomes clearer.   Sleeping is sounder.  Our appetites seem to get in check faster.

Try to stay in a spirit of Gratitude.  I found a great App for my phone.   It is a freebie call Notes to Self.  Look for it.  It is easy to spot as a red square with a white heart outline.  It is a place where one can jot down 3 things each day that elevate you and has an inspirational message available as well.

Sharing your moments of woe can also help.  Call a friend, your coach, or counselor to filter out the negatives and accent the positives.  Reframing is a healthy way to ease through the season.

And finally, the one thing that may re-center you is prayer.   Opening scripture, reciting favorite prayers, and sitting quietly with a journal, in hand while reflecting on the present opportunities can mellow us out.

So no Podcast would be complete without a Mini Miracle. This weeks Mini Miracle happened last Saturday.   I was at the office far longer than I wanted to be, because the front door of my office broke.  It would not close.  I tried numerous solutions and made many phone calls to get it fixed.  The snowstorm held a few tradesmen from coming out,  several did not answer their phones, and the two different companies coming out turned to be scam artists.  The doors had to be chained shut until Monday morning when I got in a reputable and known to our area locksmith. Well thankfully things are all better now.

So what was that mini miracle?    One of my grandchildren had come in to help with a few things early in the afternoon.  We had plans that went astray due to this incident, but it was great having the moral support and  company. I was not alone throughout this period and that made the incident less upsetting. We ended up sweeping our cars of the piles of snow and ended up doing our grocery shopping about 8:30 that night.  The store was nearly empty, but I met a good friend there.  I was indeed thankful for my granddaughter and for getting a few laughs in with this friend!   We joked about having the parking lot and having the store to ourselves.

Peace for your weekend.  May many mini miracles, health, wealth and laughter  shower upon you!  Until next week

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