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Good ideas, Layla. The biggest stressor for me used to be the holiday gift-giving. Now, I decide how much money I can afford to spend, divide it by the number of people who are getting a gift from me, and then go shopping. I shop on a day off, at no more than four stores, and then I am done. I start out with the idea that I am going to find something for each person on my list, it is going to cost less than what I have budgeted, and it is going to be Good Enough...

That's a good concept to embrace at this time of year: Good Enough. It doesn't imply that it is a good as could have been done, but it does guarantee that you will cut yourself a little slack. You do the best you can with the time you have to spend, and make a holiday that is good enough. Perhaps not memorable, or "the best ever" but definitely good enough.....

Most times, for me at least, the best times, the best events, were happenstance, and no amount of planning and preparing had any effect on them. They just happened. So slow down, make a list, harbor those good intentions, and tell yourself that what you can do is good enough.

And it will be...

Cali

I did all that by moving to Mexico. Took all the crunch out of Christmas. Now it is a great and soothing holiday.