Seventh Heaven

Are you ready for the holidays???  Working in retail means we are already beginning to move into holiday items being ready to put on the shelves.  Yes, I know how disheartening it can be when it's all out "too early".  Although there's an excitement to seeing all the neat things, it can be rather daunting for those of us who work retail to deal with all of it from September through December.  It's a long haul, so if you're out shopping, be kind to the hard workers who are getting things ready for your Christmas! 

In the meantime, I've been binge watching the old TV show 7th Heaven.  Tonight's episode was a Christmas show, and it made me realize just how close we're getting to this year's season of giving.  By the time it arrives, I for one am quite tired of it all.  But that's just me.  This will be my 21st holiday season in retail.  It's changed a lot over that many years! 

But how can we make the holidays more meaningful?  Do you just feel so much obligation, so much pressure, so much hustle and bustle that you get lost in the busy-ness and miss the actual holiday??  I know I find that happens for me.  I have to make a real effort to get back to the "reason for the season".  Some days I force myself to find my fav holiday CDs, to make myself some hot chocolate, to kick back and just relax in the season.  Some years, I feel almost "forced" to put up the tree, to decorate around the house, because the fact is after looking at it all day long at work, (and cleaning up after holiday shoppers every single day!!!!)  coming home to more of that can be a bit overwhelming at times.  But it's important to remember the real reason of the season.  That we should spend our time with those we love.  That's really where my 7th Heaven is!

Power of Music

 I'm behind in my postings because life has been interfering ... is that the correct term?  Ok, there's just a lot of real life going on, and no extra time for the little pursuits that I enjoy.  

Mom's been having anxiety issues.  I don't know what her *fear* is, but it overwhelms her and makes her feel ill.  When she feels ill, she gets anxious, and as she gets more anxious, she feels even more ill.  It's a horrid cycle and I'm not really sure how to help her.  So we're experimenting with different *things*.  At the same time, she has become .... childlike, and refuses to take anything over the counter to help her without speaking to a doctor.  Every time.  Doctors don't have time for that!  I'll have to be making some kind of decision.   Soon.

In the meantime, a great avenue of escape is music.  It can be a great source of therapy!  Each of us has that certain music that brings us to a point of peace. Or joy. Or just plain old happiness!  I have several different types that work for me.  Old country music when I'm feeling nostalgic - because I was raised on it growing up with my parents.  Or there are the old gospel standbys that speak to my spirit and lifts me to a different place.  Or my classic rock, bass thumping playlist on my MP3 player that gets me motivated to move.

All of these very different types of music has a place in our lives.  Maybe it's classic music that moves you; or maybe it's hip hop or oldies or whatever is the current pop type.  But whatever you're listening to, music has rhythm and listening changes the rhythm of your body, lifting your mood, helping you to move, reduce stress, increase energy, or infusing itself into your spirit.