’Tis the season – for reconnecting with family and friends, reflecting on 2016’s accomplishments and resetting our path for the new year.
It’s often a time of extremes with more parties and indulgences, deep appreciation and gratitude and yes, more time with family.
And while the holiday season should be filled with generosity, kindness and love, most of us will experience some emotional stress in the next few weeks.
Perhaps it’s yet-another discussion about the travesty or triumph of November’s election. And family gatherings will not doubt put you in contact with relatives you haven’t seen in umpteen years who will ask the most embarrassing and tactless questions possible.
We can’t control the conversations or the questions, but we can certainly make good decisions about how we respond.
Here are two tips.
One, accept the people in our lives as they are and not how we want them to be.
Give up any hope that this will be the year that Uncle Ken doesn’t overdo the creme de menthe or that Grandma won’t ask all the single women “When are you getting married?”
It’s not going to happen. We need to love them as they are for who they are.
Secondly, make kindness your suit of armor. It goes a long way when we’re put in uncomfortable spots.
Before you open your mouth to tell someone the something-you’ve-wanted-to-tell-them-forever piece of unwanted advice, ask yourself these questions:
Is it true?
Is it necessary?
Is it kind?
If it doesn’t meet these three requirements, let kindness rule where fondness can not.