Sally English Atlanta Real Estate

Holiday Blues

We have every reason in the world to be joyful this time of year.  Many of us just celebrated a spiritual and material holiday where family members gathered at our side and gifts were exchanged.  New Years Eve is just a day or two away and there will be midnight celebrations and maybe a glass or two of champagne.  Yet those darn holiday blues slip in to nip away at our joy.

Why So Blue?

Probably the biggest ingredient in my blues cocktail is the departure this morning of my daughter who lives in Washington, D.C.  She and her cousin just pulled out of the driveway with their car loaded to the brim with gifts and clothes and goodies.  That last hug and kiss is a bittersweet memory I will have to nurse until our next reunion.

Add a dash of "credit card blues" to the mix.  All my credit card issuers (big banks mostly) sent notices in the mail about the new change in terms that will take place because of the credit reformation act our Congress passed.  It is supposed to protect the consumer but banks saw it as another opportunity to stick it to the little guy.  At least Charles Schab was civil about it and included a real letter explaining why they were making the changes.  Oh yea, these arrived immediately after Christmas.  I also go online and check my credit card spending regularly.  I did overspend a bit this year but it was nothing compared to previous years.  Call that a light blue moment.

Stir in some "take down the Christmas decorations" blues.  Did that yesterday.  I collect Dickens Villages and they had to be packed up.  Took down the tree.  Loaded the Christmas china back in the storage boxes.  My cleaning helper comes tomorrow so I wanted to have it all put away before she arrives.  My college age daughter has three friends coming in town for Passion Twenty Ten  and I want the house to be clean when they arrive.  By the way, the Passion Twenty Ten Conference for 18 to 25 year olds looks fabulous.  That ought to knock any blues out of the park.  Wish I could go!

Finally, I had a "short sale" garnish on the blues cocktail as a short sale I have been working on for months was sidetracked at the last minute when several unexpected liens showed up on the title of the distressed property.  You would not believe the number of issues we had already worked out before coming to yet another obstacle.  Oh well, just roll up your sleeves and dig in.

My Blues Remedy Formula

1. Get busy with work.  Always makes me push those blues aside.

2. Go to work out class at LA Fitness with Joyce: I'll be sucking too much wind to be blue. 

3. Nice walk with Millie, my English Springer Spaniel.  Millie never gets blue.  A wet kiss from Millie cheers up even the deep blue folks in our family.

4. Dinner with the family.  Lots of fun things to talk about in our family.

5. College football on TV...I know, probably a lame thing to most of you........ but it is huge in the South.

6. Good movies just out: Go see Blindside!  I still have Queen Victoria, Invictus and Sherlock Holmes on my list for this week!

7. Watch a DVD.  We pulled out Love Story(not recommended if you are suffering from the blues already!!!!), and The Wedding Date.  Also watched Sound of Music and Father of the Bride on TV.

8. Meditate.  The passage below from Philippians helps me in my meditation:

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me-put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you."

HAVE A FABULOUS 2010!