The expression goes, “like water off a duck’s back.”

Often it’s used when talking about taking criticism. If you don’t let criticism affect you, then you’re letting it roll off your back like water rolls off a duck. I don’t have a huge problem with criticism (I mean, why would anyone want to criticize me, right? Sheesh!) but at this time of the year, the expression very much applies to stress.

Specifically, stress caused by the upcoming holidays.

Like many families, mine is a mixed bag of traditions, traditionalists, rebels, religions, old people and young people. You’ve got blood relatives and others that are married into the family. And at this time of year you’re also coordinating family from afar, as they come to visit for the holidays.

Some people in my family find the holidays extremely stressful. It’s a “big production” time of year; Cirque de Soleil has nothing on some of my family’s holiday gatherings! But those high production values and “each party must be a massive, over-the-top event” attitudes lead to stress. And that stress filters down from the bosses of the family (and every family has ’em!) to the wee underlings like myself.

In past years the holidays would be a stressful and therefore rather unpleasant time for me, but I’m aiming to change that this year.

One of my goals (from now until 2007) is to let holiday stress roll off my back like a duck. I want to be the duck.

I’m going to accomplish this goal by:

1. Recognizing and accepting the fact that the holidays make some people crazy.
2. Finding ways to enjoy the holidays no matter what, even if that means picking the smallest of moments and clinging to them.
3. Staying as healthy as possible by not over-eating or drinking, which tends to make me feel lousy on the inside and only exacerbate any stress or negative feelings.

And that’s it. Try to enjoy the holidays and be the duck. Good luck to you!

This post is part of my Post-Thanksgiving Goal Writing Project. You can participate too! Write a post on your blog about your goals. Link back here and tag the post “post-thanksgiving goal writing project” – we’ll help each other accomplish our goals and connect a ton of great bloggers!

Photo by sm_gardiner