In your dreams of vacation do you envision universal goals such as conservation of resources of our planet and its energy independence – or less stress? For many baby boomers, this time of year tends to be exhausting rather than inspiring. Stress is the body’s response to a stimulus, external or internal, which is seen as proof of personal resources. Is a gift to give your source of stress, as you locate the perfect tie or worry that a better BlackBerry will be available next week? Food becomes your comfort and a challenge as you eat cookie dough instead of cook? Will you be focusing on the buffet table, rather than chatting to the annual festival of office? You may create more stress by sticking to the old routine and operating on autopilot. Beware of symptoms of stress. They can occur at any time, in multiple forms and varied. For example, they may be: physiological headache – stomach Emotional – feeling angry, overwhelmed Behavior – overeating, physical removal Cognitive – difficulty concentrating, memory loss Of course, you do not want to feel anxious and restless, especially during this season. We know that your goal is to maintain balance in your life and still honor the complexity of Christmas / Hanukah / Kwanzaa. Think about what the holiday is most important to you. Think about what you want to do is not what you have to do. Begin to lay the foundations for a gradual change in your ritual gifts. Use the eight tips to help you keep your stress levels in check, as you focus on fewer things and more joy 1. Give the gift of reconnection. Send a card and catch up with an old friend or family member with whom you have lost contact. 2. Investing time instead of money. Take your elderly neighbor to the doctor’s appointment or the grocery store. 3. Give the gift of yourself. Organize a regular meal or the date of the museum with your parents or take them to the cinema. 4. Get your friends to invite them to a potluck dinner and to further reduce the expenditure by limiting your gift exchange. 5. Add a personal touch and express yourself creatively by a little of your own presents. 6. Focusing on others – volunteers at the soup kitchen, taking gifts to a homeless shelter, or donate to a battered women’s center. 7. Give a gift for you. Go with your spouse for the weekend or take your grandchildren to the zoo. 8. Enjoy the peace of mind by paying your debts instead of inviting the family to exit expensive. Look through the eyes of your children and decide together how to spend the day. Your family will understand and pass the experience. Let go of the idea of the perfect holiday. It may not look like a Norman Rockwell painting, but these small changes may represent the beginning of a new chapter in your life. Take heart as you embrace and celebrate this moment. Use it as a model for the future. And joy to you and yours as you journey towards greater connection. (C) The center of Mentor, 2006