December is here and it just happens to be my favorite month of the entire year! I love Christmastime SO MUCH!  I love singing along to Christmas music on the radio. I love watching Hallmark Christmas movies with my hot cocoa and whipped cream. I love the spirit of Christmas in the air. I love Christmas trees, and decorations, and all the beautiful Christmas lights. I love it ALL!

That being said, it is really easy during the month of December to let yourself get all stressed out with all shopping to be done, all the holiday parties to plan or attend, all the work you need to get done before you can take time off for the holiday, all the baking to do, and gift wrapping, etc. Without question everyone has a ton on their plates to get done in December so if we aren’t careful we can find ourselves so heads down working to the point that the time flies by without you recognizing that you are missing out on the most important things.

Look, I get it…I get stressed out myself if I’m not careful to force myself to keep everything in perspective each day. And I say each day because it is a daily effort to keep things in perspective. It takes a daily dose of self-talk in my head where I am reminding myself to take a deep breath and focus on the things that really matter and reminding myself to let the rest go.

This month has just started but it is going to be over before you know it. Go into this month with a commitment to focus on what truly matters and let go of the things that don’t. Commit that this month you are going to look up and enjoy and the lights!

You’ll be glad you did.

~Amy Rees Anderson