Ten Tips to Help You Save Your Sanity During the Holidays

Written by Marie M. Roker


Continued from page 1

5. Shop Wisely.

Buy people what you know they'll want forrepparttar holidays. You'll end up wasting your money and time for a recyclable gift. If you know your husband doesn't like skiing, don't buy him a trip to a Ski Resort. People usually drop hints duringrepparttar 110744 year, so pay attention when they are talking. Have alternatives for gifts. Let your children know in advance that there might be a chance that you won't find their gift.

6. Don't Overspend.

Give yourself a budget and stick to it. Need to compare prices? Use an online tool such as http://www.shopping.com, http://www.bizrate.com, http://www.activshopper.com or http://www.pricegrabber.com. Limit yourself to gifts for people on your list. If you need extra gifts (just in case someone gives you one), buy a basket and fill it with candles, and other goodies.

7. Avoid too much alcohol consumption.

Alcohol and family gatherings are a lethal combination. You can not control whatrepparttar 110745 people around you do, but you can control yourself.

8. Stop Wishing for a Perfect Holiday.

If you want to avoid disappointment, don't have expectations of perfection. Everyone has flaws andrepparttar 110746 holidays may not go as plan. Go withrepparttar 110747 flow while being optimistic.

9. Take Care of Yourself.

This is notrepparttar 110748 time for you to slack off of your self care. Exercise, eat right and get adequate sleep. Don't overindulge at parties or family gatherings.

10. Socialize.

The holidays can be lonely or you may not be in a celebratory mood. Instead of sulking, go out with a friend or do something that makes you happy. Keep yourself busy and make plans to treat yourself. If you need spiritual guidance, try visiting a church, mosque or synagogue.

Marie Magdala Roker is a mother, an Academic and Personal Development Coach, and a Certified Breakthrough Parenting Instructor, and a private tutor with Tutor.com. You can get more information at: http://www.smartbecoaching.com or http://www.successfulchild.com


If I Hurt You, Then I'm Sorry

Written by Skye Thomas


Continued from page 1

It didn't take long at all for me to see that this statement works just as well inrepparttar adult world too. Try it at work on a coworker some time and see how well they respond. Try it in your marriage. Try it with your extended family. It works on so many different levels. It can be said in light disagreements or in major all out family wars. It always works. On some level you mean it, except forrepparttar 110743 parts where you don't. Don't get into arguing over exactly what parts ofrepparttar 110744 fight you are sorry for or taking blame for. Agree not to bicker overrepparttar 110745 details ofrepparttar 110746 apology. You can expand it to say, "If during our disagreement, I have said or done anything that has hurt you, I am sorry. That was not my intention. I never wanted to hurt you." You are not lying and you are offering an olive branch. You really did not want to hurtrepparttar 110747 other person. You simply wanted to make your point. This allows you to save face but still beginrepparttar 110748 healing process. Try it sometime.

I don't think it works for really heinous things like rape, murdering someone's loved one, arson, or all out military warfare. It only works for forgivable stuff. If you believe everything and everyone is forgivable, then you can try saying it, but I expect nobody will really buy into it. If Hitler said it torepparttar 110749 Jewish peoples or Charles Manson said it to his victims' families, I doubt seriously that it would have created any real peace. When something truly ugly happens, you do have to flat out admit full guilt and a full real apology is mandatory before real forgiveness and healing can even begin to occur.

This form of apology isn't for that sort of thing. This is meant only forrepparttar 110750 hundreds of petty squabbles that we get drawn into and it's a way to create a general atmosphere of peace and healing. This is forrepparttar 110751 people that you ultimately want to stay close to. This is an apology for those annoying people that you love with all your heart, but don't want to fight with anymore.

Copyright 2004, Skye Thomas, Tomorrow's Edge

Skye Thomas is the CEO of Tomorrow's Edge, an Internet leader in inspiring leaps of faith. Her books, articles, and astrological forecasts have inspired people of all ages and faiths to recommit themselves to the pursuit of happiness. To read more of her articles and to sign up to receive her free weekly newsletter, go to www.TomorrowsEdge.net. To download free previews of her books, go to www.SkyeThomas.com.


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