Ah, I send you simple sock sympathy!

You are completely and totally sane.

The stores are killers!!! I did my shopping early....before the season started...and just avoid big stores. I make it a point to only go to small grocery stores this time of year. (Well, not totally true. I did go to Barnes & Noble but kind of FREAKED and had to immediately leave. I was there to buy a journal. But it is EXCESSIVELY OVER-THE-TOP. Disgustingly so. I long for the days when they just sold books and journals and not all the other crap.

Avoid big box stores. Period. Refuse to enter them.

I have never taken Kava. My doctor refuses to give me anything for anxiety (which is so cruel) so I use Valerian and Passion Flower. I don't drink alcohol.

I have now decided to celebrate Winter Solstice instead of Christmas. I am alone so can do whatever I want. I am going to my local Planetarium for a Winter Solstice sky dome show and lecture. I'm super excited.

I do hate how Christmas is so material...but truth be told, it was created for that very purpose! It was created by advertisers. I mean Santa as we know him was created to sell soda!

Fight back! Create your own traditions. When I decided to do Winter Solstice instead of Christmas a calm descended on me. Even if you do Christmas still come up with some small tradition that is your very own...even if it is as simple as taking a long hike on Christmas afternoon...one of my favored traditions.