I was just watching a Christmas movie with my wonderful wife, Maria, and it inspired me to write a new post.
The holiday season can be a stressful time for many people, even though it is supposed to be the exact opposite. Crowded malls, waiting in lines, stuck in traffic, you name it- it is all there during the holidays.
But lets forget about all of that for a minute. After all, before we know it the season is over, and it’s back to normal, right?
So I was thinking, what would provide a weight off people’s shoulders, what would lift a weight off of my shoulders that could last longer than the holiday season. In fact, something that could last a lifetime!
Most of us at one time or another have held a grudge or two against someone for one thing or another. Maybe for what we thought was a good reason. But all things must end, and what better time than the present.
What if we all could just lift those grudges that we are holding on to and free ourselves of this burden. After all, is it really helping us to hold that all inside? What good does it do?
What it does do is fester. It rolls around inside and whether we know it or not it eats us alive. You see, this negative emotion needs escape. So we can either choose to let it go and release it, or it will release itself as something else.
Something else like a sickness, anything from getting the flu to cancer.
It is much easier on us if we can simply learn to let go of that grudge, forget it, move on, than to suffer the consequences later on.
So if you somehow think that holding a grudge is hurting the other person more than it is hurting you, you are mistaken. The other person probably doesn’t even know about it! And if they do, then go up to them and tell them that you have let it go. Then you can be friends again and be happy.
Happy Holidays to all of you,
Jamie
Dear Jamie: Your post hit me where I live. In twenty five years of marriage, I've never been close with my mother in law -different values, different lifestyle, mostly due to her frequent criticism of my wife. My mother in law was diagnosed a few years ago with a degenerative disease, in many ways, she hasn't changed, but her body and nervous system are rapidly deterioriating. My in laws are coming to our home Christmas day. It most likely will be the last time she will able to do this. I have let go of my negative feelings and have been working every free minute to get our home ready for Christmas and her visit. I can't change her, but I can love her and work to make the day as pleasant for her and our family as I can. Happy Holidays to you Jaime. Love, Greg