How to survive the holidays

It’s been a particularly brutal and polarizing eighteen months in America. We’ve survived one of the nastiest presidential elections since Andrew Jackson’s in 1828 — and they didn’t have incessant TV ads assaulting them. I wouldn’t blame you if you’re wondering how to survive the holidays.

There are 258 million adults in America. About 29 percent voted for Donald Trump. Roughly 28 percent voted for Kamala Harris. And 43 percent of the adult population didn’t choose a side. That means you’re probably only going to see eye-to-eye with one out of every three people you encounter.

So how are you going to survive the holidays?

Follow these three tips:

Cultivate an attitude of gratitude.
Act from a place of love.
Avoid talking about politics.

Here’s why.

Cultivate an attitude of gratitude.

Life is short and often senseless. Who knows how long we have? It’s a miracle we’ve lived long enough to see this day. Rather than spend it being bitter, mean or petty, let’s give thanks for having more time to spend with friends and family.

Act from a place of love.

Each gathering is an opportunity to deepen our understanding and affection for one another. And if we want to pay that gratitude forward, it’s a good time to share our gifts or time with those less fortunate than ourselves.

We have more in common than political pundits would have us believe. When we act from a place of love and compassion, we can move past the ugly divide created by current politics that tempts us to hate each other.

If someone you love is in pain, ask how you can help. Don’t judge or scoff at their feelings. Seek to understand. And remember: sometimes, it’s better to be kind than ‘right.’

Avoid talking about politics.

Emotions are running high. Each campaign painted the other camp as an existential threat. And neither side can agree on which facts are true, so any conversation that’s political in nature is likely to devolve into a debate.

So don’t encourage anyone to try. Instead, focus on the reason for the season: faith, family, hope, redemption and love. That’s how to survive the holidays.

Happy holidays and good luck trying to maintain the peace!

Let me know how it goes! Share your thoughts and experiences by commenting below or tagging me @trulykristi on social channels. 🙂

This piece originally appeared in the White County News. Reprinted with permission.