Now that whirlwind of the holiday season is over and we are collectively experiencing a massive dopamine crash…
Let’s take a moment now to reflect and ponder…How the hell did we do all that?
Or maybe “What was I thinking buying that?”
The glow of the Christmas lights ignites a warm feeling in our hearts and a goodwill toward others. It courses through our veins like heroin. It’s as if the high of “giving the perfect gift” intoxicates our mind and clouds our judgement. We think with our hearts instead of our brain. Thankfully for our bank account, it only happens once a year. Yet, I still love every minute of it and will do it all again next year.
This year, however, it seemed more apparent to me than in years past, the weeks before Christmas are more of a rush than the actual day. The preparation for Christmas, the tree, decorating, shopping, & wrapping gets us excited. This excitement from Black Friday until 12/25 is a perpetual, steady, high like no other.
I noticed on Christmas day, there was a slight sting hovering in the background; mourning the loss of the “anticipation“.
Don’t get me wrong, my Christmas week was a blast. This was an ambivalent feeling of pure joy, combined with a lump in the back of my throat. I miss “looking forward to it”. I miss being excited. Must be aging…
https://www.instagram.com/p/DEKp9XQxgq-/?igsh=MWo5Nzcyb21pN3h5dw==
While I was watching my annual Christmas movie selections; I noticed another surprising change. I found that I was annoyed with George Bailey. I’ve been loyal to him for 35 years so it’s tough to admit, but I have lost patience for him in my old age. He sounds like a whiny brat at times.
I have been identifying more with the true hero of the story..Mary Hatch Bailey. Mary knew what was going on the whole time.
Mary Hatch knew she loved George even as a young girl.
“George Bailey, I’ll love you til
the day I die.”
She was subtle and assertive when something or someone stood in her way.
She knew where she wanted to live. She visualized and wished with her heart; it worked. Little did she know without the internet or Instagram, that she was manifesting dat shit into her life.
Most of all, she innately knew what was important and could see the big picture. She didn’t need a whole production of angels coming down from heaven and putting on a show of “not being born” to let her know what life is all about…
Mary stayed focused on her goals and didn’t pay attention what other people were doing.
When there was dilemma, Mary found a solution.
When the whole town was bankrupt, she “lent” her honeymoon money to the community.
She fixed up the old house to make it a “home.” She he found a solution instead of whining about the cards she was dealt.
a “woman’s touch?”
She didn’t get embarrassed that her car was a p.o.s. or by what she was wearing.
Mary had four babies, volunteered during the war and supported the well-being of her husband and kids.
When the $8000 went missing, she knew WHEN to ask for help from her friends. One person or family can’t do all the giving. She is aware that friendship is a two-way street.
She knew when to stop giving and to ask for help, she knew that pride doesn’t save anybody.
Therefore, we need to be aware of when to stop giving and start asking.
The key is, recognizing what is in your control and what is not.
Knowing when you need to LET others do what they are going to do.
Let others THINK what they are going to THINK.
Let people gossip.
Let people judge.
Let people display their true self all over the place.
Why? Because it is out of your control. Why expend the time and energy? If someone acts like they want to leave and doesn’t treat you the way you want, you can let them GO.
want to change
Below is a link to 60 minutes of the best therapy ever (you can fast forward through commercials.)
This podcast episode provides the tools and mindset on common situations such as: Dealing with a stressful boss, a break up or a divorce, when your children can’t get motivated or when you feel guilty about disappointing your family, or friends & more.
The game-changing concept that is also discussed “If every thought you had cost a dollar, would you keep thinking about it?” Would you keep wasting your energy if it cost money?
How much more do you need to know?
Other people are ahead of me in noticing this:
https://hopenation.org/why-mary-from-its-a-wonderful-life-is-basically-life-goals/
Book from the podcast:
https://www.audible.com/pd/B0DFMX1RT8?source_code=ASSORAP0511160006&share_location=pdp
Runners up on seeing the big picture:
Quillan Kelly-Dunn 