I love Christmas these days, because I have finally come to terms with the fact that I can make it anything I want it to be. I can turn off the commercials, I can avoid the mall. I can give presents, or not. (My children are older, but I still enjoy that part simplified.) In my opinion, simplicity is the key. Not filling up your plate, just saying no when you want to.

I enjoy the lights and the colors and the peace at my house. The smell of some baking. I am accepting that it's okay that I have chosen not to have many friends, that i like making simple decisions. And I don't get into trying to "fix" other peoples views of the holiday.

Believe me, I am going through lots of personal crap- lifelong depression, family stuff and all of that. But we have choices about this holiday. You can choose to let the past events that you cannot change continue to ruin things for you now and in the future. Or you can take away their power and take charge of what you can change.

I am not saying this is easy at all. But if the holiday and all its trimmings are making you crazy, then make a list of these things- pick a few that you can work on getting rid of. It can be very satisfying and empowering. Erase things completely, or replace them with a simpler choice. And if you can't do that, at least take some time to just simply get out of your own head for a minute, and do something for someone else. We all know how good that feels.