dealing with the downhill slide of the holidays

Blogging from Bruce
Vonda Keon


Well I don’t know about you but, whatever holidays you celebrated in November, December, and January, they're over now. All of that special food that we slaved over the stoves to cook has been eaten and the decorations are slowly coming down. The New Year is here, though I haven’t decided how I should see it. Should I see it with hope or fear, it is totally up to me.

In most of the western world, January is a month of coming down. We have spent November and December gearing up, getting ready, anticipating days off from work, travel, good food, and good times with people we love. Then January comes, and that's all over. Not only that, but the bills for all that hope and anticipation and fun start arriving and we have to go back to our normal daily routine. It's no wonder if we sometimes look up and ask if the holidays really meant anything after all. Because even if the holidays were stressful, the days after bring on even more stress!

We are now in the Season of Letdown. Seasons of letdown are difficult for the human spirit. They just are. The truth is, our lives cycle and recycle all the time, though we don't often notice because we're too busy experiencing the feelings of wherever we are in the cycle. We are constantly going through ups and downs. We cycle as individuals, as family groups, as business groups, as friends, as a culture, as a country, and as a world..

Right now for me it's almost a relief to say, "It's January, and I'm on the downward side of the holiday season cycle. It's normal for me to feel tired, a more than a little overwhelmed with everyday life coming back at me, and even a little sad. I sat down on New Years Day and tears just started welling in my eyes. I never could figure out why. I had enjoyed a wonderful day with family and we ate great food. The tears just happened of their own accord.

When I get in such a mood I find that I have to find my quiet space and hole up in it for a while. I have been over stimulated by the sights and sounds and smells of the holidays. I have been overwhelmed with the constant searching for the perfect gifts. I have been inundated with the various duties my four part time jobs have thrown at me! The only way I can make it through the downside is to sit and reflect and recharge my ‘batteries’ so I have to take time to be quiet and to contemplate or write or read some of numerous books I have. When I remember the good times I find it much easier to be content in the present time.

Now that January has arrived I have to start focusing on other things and other people. I have work to do and hopefully some trips to plan an escape from the daily life. Focusing on these things allows me to find contentment. Focusing like this can be difficult, when the time is still so close to what was exciting. I have had to develop a Meditation Mind. In meditation, practitioners are asked to focus and relax. When they find their minds wandering, they are asked to simply recall themselves to the focus. This kind of mindset can also serve well in focusing on the present, if you find your mind wandering; simply bring it back to the task at hand. Repeated practice allows our minds to attain focus easier and hold it longer.

If you're down after the holidays, I hope you can find the quiet space and time so you can focus and help you out whenever you're in the downward part of a cycle.