It is the most wonderful time of the year, according to every carol we know…but sometimes the holidays are actually the opposite: full of drama and chaos because of time spent with families. That’s why we created Seven Days of Drama Free Holidays to keep the drama out of the holiday season and keep the season merry and bright.
If you are looking for an outline of the key tips provided in this series, we rounded them up for you below.
Here are the Seven Tips:
- You are on the same team. You are all in the same family and even if you do not always like each other, you are there for a common goal. We are here to win life with our family!
- We all have so much going on in our lives. We have unknown baggage that family members may not know about that affects our perspective.You just need to know that maybe if a family member is not being kind, they may be having a ‘human moment’ and need some grace.
- Things are going to happen, less than desirable things. How would you react over an issue with a neighbor or acquaintance? You probably would give them a little more patience and kindness. With family members, we tend to freeze frame situations from the past and bring them into the present. React to your interactions as if you did not have a negative history.
- The holidays only last a couple of days! You can do anything for two hours to a week. It is not that long and you can power through.
- Just because you are related, it doesn’t mean you have to be best friends. It means you have a relationship together but it doesn’t always have to be love. You can tolerate and respect them simply as human beings of value in this world.
- Things will happen and you have to decide if this really matters five years from now. If it will matter, then you should deal with it and address it. If not, let it slide like water off a duck’s back!
- The holidays are for having fun and great conversations. This is not the time to sit down and have a deep confrontation with a family member or fix issues. If you do have an issue that needs to be addressed, schedule a time to talk separate from the family gathering.
Ultimately, we hope you spend this season making memories and being present with the people you love most.