Shopping at Amazon For the Holidays? PLEASE visit www.logicalloss.com/support The holidays. How many of you just went "ugh!" or "sigh...." We have so much pressure, so much baggage, so many emotions and that's why we often head straight to the fridge for a fix of sugar. After all you HAVE To eat one of Aunt Jill's peanut butter sugar cookies covered in frosting, whip cream and chocolate! No you don't. But we need to step back from the emotions (easier said than done) and take a long hard look at the holidays. Most of the articles I looked at about "Surviving the holidays" gave out great advice like "have another cookie (glamour)" or basically get drunk. We stress out about the holidays because what the holidays are supposed to be if your "normal" is jammed down our faces.  There are all sorts of normal things we are supposed to be doing. Jewelry commercials are the worst. Attractive happy people so in love. Ugh. "This is what everyone is doing," you think. I want to see the Jewlery couple a year later when they are arguing over what type of lights to put on the tree, and whose house they are going to first on their Christmas tour of inlaws. "The woman of your dreams is now treating you like a child as you carry the pumpkin pie, as she insists it goes into the trunk and NOT the backseat" the diamond from last year is almost paid off thanks to the 18% interest on the credit card you opened to purchase it. For example, ladies if you are not sitting in the living room sipping wine and giggling, you're not normal. Apparently, women can't do anything without wine. It is the equivalent of beer commercials with men. Men drink beer. Women drink wine (apparently when they are doing everything). Flip Your Thinking Have you ever decorated a tree alone? It is one of the most depressing things you can do. Why? Because on TV everyone decorates with their family. So when I decorate my tree alone last year, I felt horrible. I felt abnormal. I felt like an outsider looking in. The reality of tree decorating is there is usually a discussion on what ornaments go in the front (because your heartfelt ornament is considered ugly by others). Do we put icicles on the tree? Flashing lights, old style lights, LED, so many things to argue over. The flip side of this is you get to decorate YOUR tree with all the ornaments YOU want. Enjoy the power. You get to decorate HASSLE free. How many times do you do something and feel like "Let's just get it over with" when it comes to traditions? Hate gift exchanges with strangers at work? Don't participate. Why go through another pointless activity to get a gift card from someone? Gift cards, the gift that says "I don't know you, and didn't feel like asking the person who sits next to you what you might enjoy. Happy Shopping. I hope you like Kohls." You have to weigh the lesser of two evils. Are you going to be seen as the Grinch, or have to put on a fake smile for 90 minutes. Holiday Parties with Families Let's face it, we are glad we only see some of these people once a year. Apparently, bathing is optional for some people. Who knew? I can't wait for someone to asking me about my dating life. If I'm lucky, they will rub my shoulder and give me the pity look. "Hang in there, you'll find someone" they say. Have an answer ready for, "So are you dating anyone?" This could be, "Im so glad you asked Aunt Mildred, I'm sleeping with five different people" just to see the reaction. You could also state that you've been having too many adventures to squeeze someone in (then tell them what you've been up to). You may avoid the pity face. Get them talking about themselves (if they are parents, ask about their kids) when they are done, go for more punch before they ask about your dating life. Offer to help out with whatever is going on in the kitchen. Speaking of families, my cousin (who has never married) once told me he would rather want what he doesn't have, then to have something he didn't want. That one made me think. W