Holiday Matters: Make Your Holidays Stress-Free
Georgia Garden Clubs By Victoria R. Crosby
By Tana Poncsak
As soon as the kids roam the neighborhood for candy on Halloween, many of us start thinking (and maybe obsessing) about the upcoming holidays. After all, there’s cooking to be done, presents to buy, and plans to be made all while still working and going about our daily lives. And while the holidays are supposed to be meaningful and fun, often they turn out to be tiring, disappointing, and stressful. According to a December 2017 article in Medical News Today, some people can feel overwhelmed by the excess, expectations, and exchange and can become depressed during the holidays. The article goes on to say that a lack of time and money, credit card debt, and the pressure of gift giving can often contribute to stress during the holiday season. As mentioned in this article and cited by many others as well, one of the main causes for holiday stress can be linked to our expectations. We watch the holiday movies and see images of the picture-perfect holidays, and that becomes what we strive for. Anything less misses the mark. The answer can be as easy as keeping things simple and don’t over plan. But we all know that’s easier said than done. Here are a few things you can do to lower your expectations and keep things simple. • Make a realistic list of the things you need to accomplish to make your holiday special and meaningful. This shouldn’t be a long list. Try to keep this list at three to six things. Then make a second list of the things you would like to accomplish but aren’t necessary to make your holiday complete. • Try to simplify or delegate the things that need to be done to make the best use of your time. For example, you want to read the latest holiday novel, but you have no time. Try listening to the audio version while
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There are more than five hundred Garden Clubs in Georgia, divided into seven geographical districts, all named for trees or shrubs: Azalea, Camelia, Dogwood, Laurel, Magnolia, Oleander, and Redbud. The statewide non-profit organization has the following missions: Beautification, Conservation, and Education. This mission is accomplished by encouraging garden clubs to participate in projects and programs of their choosing. The first garden club in America, the Ladies’ Garden Club, was organized by twelve ladies in Athens, Georgia in January 1891. Some clubs have men, although most members are women. Members are of all ages and backgrounds and all levels of gardening. Some are beginners, and some are master gardeners. Some clubs meet in restaurants or other venues. All are welcome. I’m president of the Smoke Rise Garden Club in the Redbud District. We meet once a month in each other’s homes in the evening. Most other clubs are during the daytime. There is a speaker each month on a variety of gardening topics. In the past, we’ve had speakers on caring for roses, growing orchids, and planting pollinator gardens. Most clubs also plant flowers in special areas, such as the fire station, entrance to communities, or other public places. Each year, our club goes on a field trip to pick blueberries at a farm owned by one of our members. We have potluck dinners, go on field trips to garden centers, garden tours, and plant sales of other clubs, and hold our own plant sale each year. Garden clubs also raise funds for charities with their plant sales. Our club donates gift boxes each year at Christmas to children in the hospital. Monthly meetings of the Garden Clubs of Georgia are held Continued on page 21
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