One day, world-renowned psychologist, Carl Jung, had a friend arrive at his door wholly distraught from losing his job that very day. Carl Jung, invited his friend into his home and said, (with my paraphrasing), "Come. I'll open a bottle of fine Champaign and we'll celebrate as surely, some great good will come about from this job loss."

Losing a job or feeling trapped within a job, is likely a blessing in disguise although in moment loss or fear may seem insurmountable.

When I lost my two retail stores after ten years, my $100,000., my marriage and my self esteem I thought this was one of worst things that could happen to me in this lifetime. Now, with clarity of hindsight, I see losing my stores was Divine Intervention. By losing everything I thought I valued, I discovered what was really important to me. I lost every thing but found myself.

"Three earthly losses which bring gain to soul: loss of a friend, loss of health and loss of riches."

"A Compilation of Triads," Volume I John F. Wright

Acceptance Opens Life's Door

In their book, "Life Lessons," Elisabeth Kübler-Ross and David Kessler write,"change...usually begins with a door closing, an ending, a completion, a loss, a death. Then we enter an uncomfortable period, mourning this completion and living in uncertainty of what is next. This period is hard.

But just when we feel we can't take it anymore, something new emerges: a reintegration, a reinvestment, a new beginning. A door opens. If you fight change, you will be fighting your whole life. That's why we need to find a way to embrace change, or at least to accept it."

Through aspiring to accept life on life's terms we begin to move from feeling like a victim and blaming world around us. We get glimmers of a larger purpose at work in our lives. Through accepting our lives now, we learn to be kind to ourselves even amidst life's storms. Through acceptance we can find a measure of peace in this moment. Herein, we build foundation of a life well-lived and build bridges to a new future.

7. Don’t forget to check out holiday picture frames at resale shop or garage sales.

You could move a favorite photo to a holiday frame and place that somewhere prominent. Neat if you use photos from former holidays, like when kids were little, or your grandparents were still alive.

Also look over prints at garage sales and bargain stores with an eye toward frames. You can throw out print!

8. If you have a neutral couch with pillows, shop bargain stores for accent pillows in fall colors, or change them all to thematic color. Slipcovers are also a possibility.

9. Let children make some decorations.

Some suggestions: Painting Thanksgiving pictures you then frame and hang on walls or use for placemats. Cutting out leaves in fall colors to place around centerpiece, scatter across front door step to welcome guests, or pin to curtains. Given them clay or play-doh and let them fashion pilgrims, turkeys, leaves, or fruits. 10. Don’t forget yourself!

Most thrift stores set up displays of holiday apparel you’ll want to take advantage of for you and kids. (And most beautiful hostess is one who is rested and enjoying event herself, so take care of yourself and use your EQ skills.)