Christmas wasn’t Created for Stress

by DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills

Dear writerly friend, promise me that this year you won’t open the unwanted gift of stress. The
package is easy to recognize—the black paper and black bow with an attaching-grabbing tag,
Open Me December 1 will spoil your celebration. Oh, it’s tempting, but please don’t give in.

You’ll recognize the weighted items inside:

• Writer, cut short any family or friend events. You have too much work to do. Be rude; they will get over it.
• Writer, stress is your friend. If you aren’t stressed, you aren’t valued.
• Writer, no need for last-minute shopping. Family and friends understand you’re too busy to remember them at Christmas. Maybe next year.
• Writer, remember your favorite Christmas character is Scrooge. He got it right/write.
• Writer, if you’re planning to attend Christmas Eve church services, cancel it. You should be writing.
• Writer, here’s permission to spend one hour tolerating Christmas festivities. Then back to work.
• Writer, establish an unwritten rule among family and friends. Christmas never happens at my house.
• Writer, you may need to eat junk food and forego exercise. Not enough time.

Unfortunately, I know writers who open this gift before Christmas and practice it year-round.

But NOT you!

You are among the wise writers who honor and treasure the celebration. This gift is wrapped in
colors of joy, love, peace, and contain more wisdom than the wise men carried on their camels:

• Wise writers believe Christmas wasn’t created for stress. Neither are any of the other
  days of the year.
• Wise writers enjoy a time of relaxation and refueling physically, mentally, and spiritually. They plan special time with family and friends.
• Wise writers practice the art of priorities: God, family, friends, and work in that order.
• Wise writers plan for holidays and special events throughout the year. They take advantage of sales, keep track of gifts purchased, and are ahead of the busy crowds.
• Wise writers never over-commit to writing projects, parties, and filling each hour with something that must be done.
• Wise writers employ time management techniques, such as spreadsheets and templates
  to achieve success in meeting deadlines.
• Wise writers enlist an accountability partner to help each other journey through the
  exciting and meaningful days of Christmas.
• Wise writers insist upon balance, not only at Christmas but throughout the year.
• Wise writers value healthy bodies by eating nutritionally sound and exercising regularly.
• Wise writers look forward to the holidays no matter what is going on in their lives. This
  is the season to celebrate Jesus’ birth.
• Wise writers have faith that God will them exactly what needs to be done.
• Wise writers treasure the gift of God’s word—365 days of the year.

I invite you to take that weighted gift of stress to the trash. You might need to invest in a tow
truck, but the result will be worth it. This Christmas may be the best you’ve ever celebrated.

Do you have a tip to help us avoid stress this Christmas? Share it!

Bestselling author DiAnn Mills is known for her gripping romantic suspense novels where readers can Expect An Adventure. With multiple Christy Awards and numerous bestsellers, her stories captivate readers with their depth and intensity. A passionate storyteller and dedicated mentor, DiAnn is also a coffee connoisseur and proud grandmother living in Houston, Texas. Her latest release is Canyon of Deceit.