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Getting Through the Holidays with Fibromyalgia

© Cynthia Webber (Jausten)

The holidays are upon us, and I'd like to recommend reading Michelle Struik's article called It's Beginning to Look a lot like Christmas! Don't forget to read the discussion that follows that article. I have found that article and the discussion very helpful for me as I think about the things which I need to do in order to be ready for the holidays.

I've been doing a bit of shopping, and have begun to delegate certain activities to my family members. However, getting in the holiday mood when my expectations of myself are set too high is very frustrating as I become fatigued from just doing a small bit of shopping. I have bought ingredients to bake all sorts of goodies, but standing in the kitchen for any length of time is becoming harder for me to do. My pain levels increase when I have to stand and prepare a meal or do the dishes, and the thought of baking cookies and other goodies is not what I really want to do right now. I do have a daughter who may or may not have time to help me with baking, so I've decided to support my local bakery this year. Goodies from a bakery may not help the house to have that wonderful smell that baking cookies and candies provides, but there is always potpourri and spicey smelling candles which can be used to create a wonderful holiday smell throughout a home.

An Advent calendar is quick and easy to buy, and even though my children are older, they still like to open each window and eat the chocolate inside. We put up a Jesse Tree which is like an Advent calendar, where a different ornament is placed on the branches each day from Dec. 1 through Dec. 24. I have saved a branch for several years, and it is a tradition which adds an easy decoration to our home. Whether the ornaments get hung on the branch every day isn't important any more, but I do try to have it completed by Christmas Eve.

Last year we broke down and bought a plastic Christmas tree, and it is easy for the males in the family to put together, and the lights are put on by my husband. Getting everyone together to hang ornaments is becoming more difficult due to school and work schedules, so I hang what I can and leave the rest to my family. Having a tree that doesn't shed needles all over the carpet is a blessing when it is time to take down the decorations, and it really looks just as beautiful as a tree that we've cut down by ourselves.

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