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10 Intentional Ways to Reduce Holiday Stress

12/19/2020

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Relieving stress any time of the year is worth the effort.

But during the holidays, with the extra rush, hurry, and expectations, reducing stress is even more important.

Statistically speaking, people are more likely to feel their stress increase rather than decrease during the holidays. Let’s change that.



​Here are 10 Intentional Ideas to Reduce Holiday Stress:


1. Don’t expect (or even pursue) perfection.

There is no such thing as perfect: the perfect tree, the perfect outdoor decoration, the perfect play, the perfect dinner, the perfect gift, the perfect Christmas morning, etc. They do not exist.

If you want to remove holiday stress, remove the pursuit of perfect and replace it with “my best effort.”

2. Don’t overspend your means.

77% of us expect to exceed our holiday budget this year (and only 37% will put a post-holiday budget plan in place to recover). Overspending your budget adds stress during the holiday and after—a double dose. Say no to holiday overspending. Choose to spend within your means instead.

3. Set boundaries if necessary, in relationships.

Relationships can be difficult and unhealthy family relationships can be extra strained during the holiday season. There are times, certainly, when it’s best to stay away entirely. But often times, families want to be together during the holidays.

If the idea of spending time with family causes stress in your life, make decisions about setting healthy boundaries. Here are some thoughts on how to do that.

4. Set healthy expectations for your kids.

“Maybe you’ll get it for Christmas” are some of the most dangerous words we can use during this season with our children. It sets an unhealthy expectation that the number of gifts under the tree will be limitless. But we all know that’s not going to be the case. And when it comes time to open the presents, our anxiety level is through the roof.

Instead, be sure to set reasonable expectations throughout the season.

5. Appreciate the simple and free.

Holidays don’t have to be expensive, rushed, and stressful. One important key to accomplishing this reality is to appreciate and find joy in the simple and free. Keep your tastes simple and enjoy the magical moments.

There is as much joy to be found in a conversation with your grandparent, a quiet snowfall, or baking cookies with your kids as you can find flying halfway around the world to a beach in the Caribbean or spending thousands of dollars on gifts.

Enjoy the simple and you’ll never run out of joy—because your holiday season is full of moments to enjoy.

6. Embrace a ‘less is more’ mentality.

In almost every case, less is more if you begin to see it.

You don’t need to spend days decorating the home with countless Christmas decorations when one box of meaningful decorations would suffice. You don’t need to make commitments every night of the week when a few strategic outings will fill your calendar enough. And you don’t need an entire tree stuffed with presents when a few thought-out gifts will be more appreciated anyway.

If you want to reduce stress during the holiday seasons, notice how less is more. And then embrace it fully.

7. Reflect on the positives often and regularly.

Stress increases when our attention is fixated on our problems or worries. Of course, life is never perfect and some problems/issues tend to be extra highlighted during the holiday season.

To counteract this, it is wise to be intentional and consistent with reflecting on the positives.

Maybe your extended family relationships aren’t perfect, but they are still better than other families. Maybe you didn’t get every gift you wanted for Christmas, but you certainly got some good ones. Or maybe your travel plans weren’t pulled off flawlessly, but at least you arrived at your destination.

Keep your attention on the positives in all situations.

8. Hire some help.

While not available for everyone, hiring some extra help during the holiday seasons is a great way to reduce some stress. Hire the neighbor boy to shovel your driveway throughout December, or hire the housekeeper to do some cleaning before your family arrives. Even if you’re not incredibly wealthy, it might be worth looking into your local pricing for such options. They might be more affordable than you think.

And since buying time is one of the three ways to spend money on happiness, it might just be worth the investment.

9. Don’t cross the same bridge twice.

There’s an old saying that goes like this, “We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it.”

The point of the saying is this: Don’t worry about a situation until that situation is actually in front of you. When you get to the bridge, cross it. You can’t cross it before you arrive at it anyway.

One reason the holidays can become stressful for us is we begin worrying about all the countless unhealthy and unhappy circumstances we might encounter. We worry about family, or travel, or plans, or the meal, etc. But worrying about a problem that may or may not arise in the future requires you to cross the bridge twice—once before it arrives and once when it arrives.

Determine this holiday season to not cross the bridge twice. Don’t let worry get the best of you. Rather than wasting energy imagining countless unenjoyable circumstances, decide to wait to see if they even arise. When they do, cross the bridge once—rather than twice.

10. Practice moderation.

Moderation, in so many ways, is the key to reducing stress during the holidays. Moderation in your diet, spending, commitments, alcohol, responsibilities, etc. From A to Z, embrace moderation throughout the holiday season. You’ll be glad you did—and so will everyone else.

A less stressed holiday season? Sounds lovely. And totally possible. - From Joshua Becker

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Great Flicks: November Streaming

12/13/2020

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​A former baseball player keeps her lesbian relationship a secret from her family for seven decades.

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​Jack McCall (Eddie Murphy) is a selfish literary agent whose fast-talking ways allow him to close any deal. His next target is New Age guru Dr. Sinja (Cliff Curtis), but the savvy doctor sees right through Jack. A magical tree appears in Jack's yard, and, according to Dr. Sinja, the tree and Jack are connected; every time Jack says a word, a leaf falls from the tree. When the last leaf drops, Jack will die. With just a thousand leaves left, Jack must learn to curb his speech or he's a goner.

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​After ratting out his Mafia cohorts, Giovanni Manzioni (Robert De Niro) and his family enter the Witness Protection Program and relocate to a French town. Despite the best efforts of their handler (Tommy Lee Jones) to keep them in line, Giovanni (now called Fred Blake), his wife (Michelle Pfeiffer) and children (Dianna Agron, John D'Leo) can't help but resort to doing things the "family" way. However, their dependence on such old habits places everyone in danger from vengeful mobsters.

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​An examination of the coronavirus pandemic, the efforts to combat it and ways to manage its mental health toll.

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A mysterious virus has killed every woman on the planet, all except Eva (Freida Pinto). Hunted by everyone, Eva and her boyfriend Will make a break for the wilderness, but its not long before someone picks up their trail.

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A single middle-aged woman who has lived her whole life in a small Virginia mining town uncovers a family secret that alters her profoundly.

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​Three Midwestern brothers, a crime lord, and an incorruptible police officer are on a deadly collision course when the youngest brother's fiancée is kidnapped by human traffickers. To save her, the MacGregor boys call on their military training and the strength of family to fight the most important battle of their lives.

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​After 15 years of marriage, Katie (Michelle Pfeiffer) and her husband, Ben (Bruce Willis), have grown apart. While they keep up the facade of having a contented marriage, mostly to not worry their children, they aren't happy together and argue frequently. While the kids are away at camp, Katie and Ben decide to separate and try to reassess their relationship to see if they should stay together or split up for good. Can they find enough that's positive in their marriage to keep it going?

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The Show Must Go On: The Queen Adam Lambert Story (2019) 1h 26min | Documentary | TV Movie 29 April 2019. A documentary on how Adam Lambert took over from the legendary Freddie Mercury as the frontman for the rock group Queen.

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​A group of mercenaries, all centuries-old immortals with the ablity to heal themselves, discover someone is onto their secret, and they must fight to protect their freedom.

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Chicken and Sweet Corn Soup

12/12/2020

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Well for those of you unfamiliar with this one, chicken and sweet corn soup is basically egg drop soup made with extra chicken, and corn.  And when made with my favorite broth, which is seasoned lightly with ginger, garlic and sesame oil, this simple soup is incredibly flavorful and delicious.  And when thickened with those beautiful egg ribbons and loaded up with classic chicken soup ingredients?  Well, I’m convinced that this soup is about as comforting as it gets.

6 cups good-quality chicken stock 
1 chicken breast
1/2 sesame oil
1/4 tsp. pepper
​1 tsp. salt (as needed)

4 green onions, thinly sliced
1 (16 ounce) can creamed corn 
1/4 cup cornstarch
1 large egg, beaten

In a large stockpot, stir together 6 cups stock, chicken, salt, creamed corn, and pepper.  Cook for 20 minutes and shred chicken.

Using a spoon, begin to swirl the soup slowly in a continuous motion.  Then while you are still swirling the soup, drizzle the eggs into the soup in a steady stream.  The hot broth will instantly cook the eggs, and they will form those beautiful egg ribbons.

Add in the sesame oil, and stir to combine.  Then taste the soup, and season with salt and pepper as needed.
Serve warm, sprinkled with the remaining green parts of the green onions.


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Egg Drop Soup

12/12/2020

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We start many stir-fry meals with this easy egg drop soup, which cooks in just a few minutes. There are many recipe variations, but we like the addition of cornstarch to thicken the soup and give it a rich, golden color. I got the recipe from Grandma’s old cookbook.

6 dried shiitake mushrooms (optional)
6 cups chicken broth
4 oz. chicken breast
1 tsp. Chinese rice wine or dry sherry
1/2 tsp. grated ginger
1 tsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1 tablespoon cornstarch
2 tablespoons cold water
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1 green onion, sliced


In a large saucepan, bring broth, mushrooms, and chicken to a boil over medium heat. Let cook for 20 minutes. Shred chicken. 

Add ginger, wine, sugar, salt, and pepper.

Combine cornstarch and water until smooth; gradually stir into broth. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened.

Reduce heat. Drizzle beaten egg into hot broth, stirring constantly. Remove from the heat; stir in onion.

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Good Reads: Rediscover Jesus

12/6/2020

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​At a time when so many people are spiritually disillusioned and searching for ways to live, love, work, and play that nurture the soul rather than destroy it, Matthew Kelly once again delivers a powerful book that encourages us in our weariness, challenges us in our comfort, and invites us to rediscover the beautiful possibilities God places before us daily.Rediscover Jesus is a profound invitation to seek deeply personal answers to our deeply personal questions. Each page seems to effortlessly reach into every aspect our lives, providing spiritual wisdom and practical insights that help us to know both Jesus and ourselves in a new way.Some books find us at just the right time, and those books change our lives forever. Rediscover Jesus is one of those books.How Well Do You Know Jesus?I think about this often, and I always come to the same realization. I don't know Jesus anywhere near as well as I would like to know him. The desire is there, but life gets in the way. There are times when I seem to be making great progress, and other times when I wonder if I know him at all.But I always arrive back at the same inspiring and haunting idea: If there is one person that we should each get to know in a deeply personal way, it is Jesus the carpenter from Nazareth, the itinerant preacher, the Son of God, the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, the Lamb of God, the new Adam, the Messiah, the Alpha and the Omega, the Chosen One, the Light of the World, the God-Man who wants good things for us more than we want them for ourselves, the healer of our souls.

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Great Flicks: October Online Streaming

12/6/2020

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​A woman searches for her kidnapped son while navigating an unfamiliar environment.

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​Nick O'Brien is the hard-drinking leader of the Regulators, an elite unit of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. Ray Merrimen is the recently paroled leader of the Outlaws, a gang of ex-military men who use their expertise and tactical skills to evade the law. O'Brien, Merrimen and their crews soon find themselves on a direct collision course as the criminals hatch an elaborate plan for a seemingly impossible heist -- the city's Federal Reserve Bank.

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​In February 1993, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms raids David Koresh's Branch Davidian compound, a small religious community located just outside of Waco, Texas, triggering a drawn-out gun battle that kills four ATF agents and six civilians and wounds dozens more people. After a 51-day standoff, the conflict ends when an FBI assault leads to a fire that engulfs the compound, killing 76 Branch Davidians, including Koresh. Told from the perspectives of those who were there, including chief FBI negotiator Gary Noesner and survivor David Thibodeau, the six-part scripted series "Waco" dramatizes one of the most misunderstood stories in American history.

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​When attorney Sam Bowden (Nick Nolte) knowingly withholds evidence that would acquit violent sex offender Max Cady (Robert De Niro) of rape charges, Max spends 14 years in prison. But after Max's release, knowing about Sam's deceit, he devotes his life to stalking and destroying the Bowden family. When practical attempts to stop Max fail, Sam realizes that he must act outside the law to protect his wife and daughter in Martin Scorsese's remake of the classic 1962 thriller.

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​A tough detective (Denzel Washington) matches wits with a cunning bank robber (Clive Owen), as a tense hostage crisis is unfolding. Into the volatile situation comes a woman named Madaline (Jodie Foster), a mysterious power broker who has a hidden agenda and threatens to push a tense situation past the breaking point.

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​After failing to find success on Broadway, April returns to her hometown and is recruited to train a misfit group of young dancers.

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​The most haunted house in the world sits on an isolated stretch of land that's 50 miles outside of San Francisco. Built by Sarah Winchester, heiress to the Winchester fortune, it stands seven stories tall and contains hundreds of rooms. To an outsider, it looks like a monstrous monument to a disturbed woman's madness. But Sarah's actually building a prison, an asylum for hundreds of vengeful ghosts -- and the most terrifying among them have a score to settle with the Winchesters.

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​Framed for the murder of her husband, Libby Parsons (Ashley Judd) survives the long years in prison with two burning desires sustaining her -- finding her son and solving the mystery that destroyed her once-happy life. Standing between her and her quest, however, is her parole officer, Travis Lehman (Tommy Lee Jones). Libby poses a challenge to the cynical officer, one that forces him to face up to his own failings while pitting him against his superiors and law enforcement colleagues.

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​A charismatic jeweler makes a high-stakes bet that could lead to the windfall of a lifetime. In a precarious high-wire act, he must balance business, family and adversaries on all sides in pursuit of the ultimate win.

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​A woman tries to mend her marriage after a brief encounter with an old friend. She soon realizes that her ex-lover is more dangerous and unstable than she had thought.

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Great Flicks: September Online Streaming

12/6/2020

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​A widowed, single mother takes a job as caretaker to a young girl with spina bifida and an unlikely friendship blossoms.

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​A 19-year-old woman cares for her siblings after an econometric collapse leads to widespread violence.

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When an American contractor is kidnapped and brought into the Colombian jungle, his kidnappers demand the password to a massive bank account, which forces him into a game that is impossible to win.

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​In an attempt to be part of her life, a pregnant mother with terminal cancer leaves behind 18 sentimental gifts for her unborn daughter to receive every year on her birthday.

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​Undercover Las Vegas police officer Vincent Downs (Jamie Foxx) finds himself caught in a high-stakes web of corrupt cops, internal affairs and murderous gangsters. When a failed heist leads to the kidnapping of his teenage son (Octavius J. Johnson), Downs must race against time during a wild and restless night to save him and bring the criminals to justice.

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​Down on his luck repairman Alec goes to live with a distant uncle, who insists that Alec has inherited the family's mysterious ability to heal people.

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​A war veteran tries to protect her father from a shady sheriff who wants to confiscate his livestock.

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​A hotel clerk becomes the prime suspect when a woman is murdered during his shift. As the police investigation closes in, he makes a personal connection with a guest -- but soon realizes he must stop the killer before she becomes the next victim.

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​Massimo is a member of the Sicilian Mafia family and Laura is a sales director. She does not expect that on a trip to Sicily trying to save her relationship, Massimo will kidnap her and give her 365 days to fall in love with him.

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​A cowboy in a travelling rodeo falls in love with a councilman's daughter.

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