The Wendy List of Advice for this Holiday Season

I am reading with interest the advice given in so many of the blogs I like about the need to do lists, pacing and simplicity this holiday season.

I don't have much I can offer to that - it is all good sound stuff and proffered by good sound people.

So I offer you my own personal list of things that might make your holiday season just that much brighter:

1) Eat too many cookies - isn't that why they made January?

2) Drink Real Champagne. 

People will tell you sparkling wine is all the same, but I say, if you are curling up on New Years Eve with Ryan Seacrest or Anderson Cooper you need two things: The Widow and Potato Chips (see #1 about January).  BTW Veuve is Widow in French...

3) Embrace one awkward present moment

Oh you know that someone is going to give you something you hate.  Embrace it - go over the top with it (then quietly return it or re-gift it to your mother-in-law)...

4) Embrace your shallow you...

Now is not the time for deep talks.  Now is the time for small talk and giggling.  Compare horror stories of your worst presents ever (or your best), debate the virtues of Ryan Reynolds versus Ryan Gosling, give to charity and then take a deep breath and enjoy the season...

5) Get yourself a toy

When was the last time you had a toy?  Played with play doh, paper dolls or lego?  Your stocking must have at least one toy and preferably, you will lay on your stomach when you play with it and then hopefully someone will will help you up off same-said floor later....A train set is perfect and you can even put your little bottle of Baileys on top of the cars and watch it go around - such fun!

6) Make a snow angel

Those of you in warmer climates need a beach, but you get the drift.  Have fun!  All work and no play makes us dull.. Watch out for yellow snow...

7) Buy the John Denver & the Muppets Christmas Album

Sure, there's the old chestnuts, but John Denver sings some of the deepest and loveliest songs and they are all waiting for you to discover....

It's in every one of us
To be wise
Find your heart
Open up both your eyes
We can all know everything
Without ever knowing why

It's in every one of us
By and by

8)  Make Sure you Make Time to Remember that one great Christmas memory

Christmas can be a time of melancholy, regrets, sadness.  We all experience a bit of that because we are, after all, human.   Find your sweet spot, that one thing about Christmas that you love and then just, as we like to say here in the Maritimes "Do that friggin' thing".   Call someone you miss and say hi - sure they may have no idea who the hell you are now, but you know who they are and that's all that matters...Sometimes, you just need to don your antlers and let 'er rip..

9) Eat cookies

Did I mention that already?

 

10) Befriend a Lonely Celebrity ( Even famous people can get lonely at Christmas)

and because I am the kind of person that I am, I hereby throw open my doors to:

• George
• Andrew Lincoln
• Denzel Washington
• Chris Martin
• Emma Thompson
• Tom Hanks
• Eleanor Catton , who I really need to talk about The Luminaries with...
• Sandra Bullock
• Keith Richards
• Paul McCartney
• Tony Bennett
• Bill Clinton
• Maggie Smith
• Judi Dench
• Jennifer Lawrence
• John Stewart and Stephen Colbert
• David McCullough (still a groupie)

The champagne and potato chips are on me.

I think you need to think of which celebrities you will take under your wing this holiday season - we must always be ready to extend a hand to those who need it the most...

And this post was a public service announcement of the WMM School of Ironic, but True, Philosophy...

Happy Thursday and Stay Safe out there!