4.Peace of mind – You’ve heard of “fight or flight” response? When I am upset or when I have things to work out in my mind, I go for a walk. I may start out stomping as I try to release anger, but by time I get back home, I have worked through it and my mind has been cleared so that I can think rationally. Instead of sitting in a chair stewing about a problem, or getting into a fight with someone, walking can be great therapy, and you may be able to find a rational way to resolve problem.

I suppose walking is one of those things I’m especially grateful for because when I was a year old my mother realized I wasn’t walking properly. It looked like one leg was longer than other, but actual problem was that leg hadn’t joined hip properly. After tearfully pleading with other family members who wanted to deny there was anything wrong with their little girl, she made an appointment with an orthopedic surgeon and I was put in a body cast that went from under my arms to my knees. I spent next year in that cast. I probably weighed as much as my mother did with that plaster cast. As an adult, my aunts and uncles told me about how horrified they had been when they saw "the horrible cast" and feared it would keep me from doing things other one year-olds did. They told of their joy when they saw that I not only learned to walk, but run and climb in spite of challenges I had.

Probably most valuable lesson from that experience was that I learned that with encouragement, I could not only walk, but I was given confidence to believe that I could do anything.

On Thanksgiving when you stuff yourself with turkey, instead of curling up on couch and taking a nap, think about taking a walk instead. It will help revive you and give you time you need to think about things you’re grateful for.

At first my kids hated it - I guess they liked sound of ripping paper and big mess it created. As years went by, I was determined to make this work, and feel I have now succeeded. I continue to buy fabric occasionally because my family has grown and now includes in-laws and grandchildren. I make bags big enough that I can insert a shirt box, or whatever size I may be using. Sometimes I just wrap item with a lot of tissue paper and then stuff it in fabric bag. Tissue paper allows people to hear crunching of paper and seems to satisfy need for noise! Tissue paper is also reusable for same purpose next year. Just fold it up and put it away with bags. All of bags can be folded and stuffed inside largest bag. You can save space, time, and money.

If you have wrapping paper left over from last year (some people unwrap gifts and save paper) try running it through a shredder to use as stuffing for your bags. The fuller bags, cuter they look under tree.

Use whatever fabric catches your eye or whatever is on sale. I like red and green holiday fabric, but I've since incorporated some blue and gold into group. Even plain muslin or pillow ticking can look good if you spice it up with fancy ribbon. Be creative.