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Giving Thanks
Giving Thanks
By Rebecca Eberlin, Ph.D.
It’s that time of year again when the hustle and bustle of the holiday season is taking over. All over Los Angeles, shopping centers have converted their space into winter wonderlands. Christmas trees, lights and other holiday decorations flank every walkway, window and store display. Holiday music is piped throughout stores and one can’t help humming along.
In the movies, these two months are depicted as the most joyous time of the year. However, with stores rolling out their holiday sales and lines getting longer, people are already getting on edge. Tempers are short and frustration tolerance seems to be at an all time low.
The holiday season is definitely one of my favorite times of year. I cannot wait to take out my holiday decorations and share a cup of the season’s first cider with my husband and family. The other day as I watched the big tree go up on the Third Street Promenade, I couldn’t help but think about what this holiday season is really all about.
With Thanksgiving around the corner, it is important that we take the time to acknowledge the different things we are thankful for. As our lives get busier and busier, it can be difficult to remember this season is about appreciating what we have and celebrating it together, with our friends and family.
Every year when my family gathers around the Thanksgiving table we take a moment to share what we are most thankful for. For my family, themes of health and happiness are consistent. While it is important to be thankful for major life events like a new marriage or a new baby, we must also remember to recognize the day-to-day aspects of our life. As I sit and write this, I am thankful that I live close enough to work that commuting is not an extra stress on my plate.
This year, try not to get caught up in the rush of the holiday season, but remember what it’s all about. Take a moment to appreciate your life for what it is and what you have. What are you thankful for this year?