Comments on: for the grinches http://www.yourcourageouslife.com/2009/12/01/for-the-grinches/ Life Coach Kate Swoboda Thu, 16 Jun 2011 12:11:19 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: taliana http://www.yourcourageouslife.com/2009/12/01/for-the-grinches/#comment-109 taliana Mon, 14 Dec 2009 23:08:50 +0000 http://www.yourcourageouslife.com/blog/?p=150#comment-109 Oh gosh, how I hear you. After 9 years of working at a hallmark store, I can totally sympathize. Although I've been gone for over 10 years now, I still cannot stand to listen to Christmas music, and I hate, hate, hate Christmas shopping, and will do everything I can to do most of it online. If I do have to go out, I do my best to be very nice to the folks helping me...even if I have to wait a very long time, because I sure do remember how horribly people would treat me because they had to wait awhile or we were out of their item, or just because. It always amazed me how horrible people would be during this most "joyous of times." I hope to be able to let it all go someday, but I'm not there yet. Oh gosh, how I hear you. After 9 years of working at a hallmark store, I can totally sympathize. Although I’ve been gone for over 10 years now, I still cannot stand to listen to Christmas music, and I hate, hate, hate Christmas shopping, and will do everything I can to do most of it online. If I do have to go out, I do my best to be very nice to the folks helping me…even if I have to wait a very long time, because I sure do remember how horribly people would treat me because they had to wait awhile or we were out of their item, or just because. It always amazed me how horrible people would be during this most “joyous of times.”

I hope to be able to let it all go someday, but I’m not there yet.

]]> By: Allison http://www.yourcourageouslife.com/2009/12/01/for-the-grinches/#comment-108 Allison Tue, 01 Dec 2009 18:00:43 +0000 http://www.yourcourageouslife.com/blog/?p=150#comment-108 I have struggled with accepting the holiday season as well. I used to work in a supermarket and let me tell you, people go a little bananas when they can use their value card points to get a free turkey, especially when they choose the wrong turkey or something doesn't ring up right! I also never understood getting together with family members once a year. It always felt so fake, like the Christmas/Easter churchgoers. And then I moved to Las Vegas and had to deal with not only buying Christmas presents with money that wasn't readily available (major bills always seem to come up in December), but also having the onus of getting to family in Maryland or New Jersey. It made me cuh-RAY-ZEE after the first year. But still, for four of the five years, there I was, spending nonexistent money and packing my bags for a trip I mostly resented. Now that I am living in northern VA and am within driving distance, the burden feels a lot less than it did when I was 2500 miles away. I've still not resolved the whole gift-giving experience, but I'm slowly accepting that this is just how it is and that my resistance only causes myself stress that I don't need. (longest comment ever) I have struggled with accepting the holiday season as well. I used to work in a supermarket and let me tell you, people go a little bananas when they can use their value card points to get a free turkey, especially when they choose the wrong turkey or something doesn’t ring up right! I also never understood getting together with family members once a year. It always felt so fake, like the Christmas/Easter churchgoers.

And then I moved to Las Vegas and had to deal with not only buying Christmas presents with money that wasn’t readily available (major bills always seem to come up in December), but also having the onus of getting to family in Maryland or New Jersey. It made me cuh-RAY-ZEE after the first year. But still, for four of the five years, there I was, spending nonexistent money and packing my bags for a trip I mostly resented.

Now that I am living in northern VA and am within driving distance, the burden feels a lot less than it did when I was 2500 miles away. I’ve still not resolved the whole gift-giving experience, but I’m slowly accepting that this is just how it is and that my resistance only causes myself stress that I don’t need. (longest comment ever)

]]> By: admin http://www.yourcourageouslife.com/2009/12/01/for-the-grinches/#comment-107 admin Tue, 01 Dec 2009 17:57:20 +0000 http://www.yourcourageouslife.com/blog/?p=150#comment-107 Yes, Kathy--we can psychically breathe with one another. ;-) Eileen--congrats on going to graduate school! Yes, Kathy–we can psychically breathe with one another. ;-)

Eileen–congrats on going to graduate school!

]]> By: Eileen http://www.yourcourageouslife.com/2009/12/01/for-the-grinches/#comment-106 Eileen Tue, 01 Dec 2009 15:35:22 +0000 http://www.yourcourageouslife.com/blog/?p=150#comment-106 I totally get this post!!! I have interfaced with the public as a waitress, ski school instructor, retail person, wow, that seems like I can't keep a job doesn't it? lol Now, I'm in graduate school, go figure. Anyhow- I so know what you're talking about and if I have to go out of my house to shop at places like Target I try to remember how I felt as a cashier(another glam job I 've had) or a waitress and "make it a game" by spreading the love. I also cut down on buying presents and instead give time by traveling to see family who live far away every year. I'm okay not spending a ton of money on stuff because I am a student, we are essentially poor, and life is about being with people even if we fight. Looking back as a kid we had some boozed up arguments at my house for the holidays- lol! Ah, the Irish- I could go on... :) But seriously, at least people were there we could fight with and we weren't all alone. (Shrugs) I am trying to up my level of peacefulness in other ways too though. I recently became vegan. This was a long windy path for me, but it feels right. I look forward to reading more of your blog. Your fellow former service worker, Eileen. I totally get this post!!! I have interfaced with the public as a waitress, ski school instructor, retail person, wow, that seems like I can’t keep a job doesn’t it? lol Now, I’m in graduate school, go figure. Anyhow- I so know what you’re talking about and if I have to go out of my house to shop at places like Target I try to remember how I felt as a cashier(another glam job I ‘ve had) or a waitress and “make it a game” by spreading the love. I also cut down on buying presents and instead give time by traveling to see family who live far away every year. I’m okay not spending a ton of money on stuff because I am a student, we are essentially poor, and life is about being with people even if we fight. Looking back as a kid we had some boozed up arguments at my house for the holidays- lol! Ah, the Irish- I could go on… :) But seriously, at least people were there we could fight with and we weren’t all alone. (Shrugs) I am trying to up my level of peacefulness in other ways too though. I recently became vegan. This was a long windy path for me, but it feels right. I look forward to reading more of your blog. Your fellow former service worker, Eileen.

]]> By: kathy http://www.yourcourageouslife.com/2009/12/01/for-the-grinches/#comment-105 kathy Tue, 01 Dec 2009 15:16:56 +0000 http://www.yourcourageouslife.com/blog/?p=150#comment-105 this post had me nodding so much i must have looked like a bobblehead to anyone passing by my desk! i know i've still got a long way to go and a ton of work to do before i'm finally able to cope with the holidays in a healthy way, but in the meantime, i've learned that taking time out to just close my eyes and take few slow deep breaths has really helped to keep me from losing my sh*t during high-stress holiday moments. if i just make that decision to slow down, it somehow helps the external madness to become a bit less overwhelming. this post had me nodding so much i must have looked like a bobblehead to anyone passing by my desk! i know i’ve still got a long way to go and a ton of work to do before i’m finally able to cope with the holidays in a healthy way, but in the meantime, i’ve learned that taking time out to just close my eyes and take few slow deep breaths has really helped to keep me from losing my sh*t during high-stress holiday moments. if i just make that decision to slow down, it somehow helps the external madness to become a bit less overwhelming.

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