Bloom Qatar

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Thursday, 22 December 2011

Issue No.

The Holiday Spirit: Fun, Joyful, and Magical!

SeasonÕs Greetings

party and invite your favorite people. You can serve lowcalorie foods that are nourishing and satisfying as well as non-alcoholic drinks.

Help others.

One of the best ways to celebrate the holiday season is to be charitable. Giving time, affection and care to others, especially those in need is the most rewarding experience of all. Some of us may know of at least one elderly person who would value a special friendly visit.

Recognize when holiday rituals become a burden, not a pleasure. Perhaps some of your fondest memories Rania Salama

So how can we capture the excitement? One way is to think of holiday preparation as fun — something to be enjoyed as much as the actual holidays themselves. Preparation is about more than just planning and scheduling. It’s also about getting our spirits ready and open to the joy that’s possible, and then creating that joy for ourselves and others through our actions. In anticipating your holiday mood we should always look forward to something fun where getting caught up in preparing is where good feelings begin. Expecting good things puts us in a happy and excited mood. When we feel happy and excited, we can actually create the good experiences we want. It’s easy for positive emotions to build and grow. That’s one reason why the holiday spirit is so contagious. When one person is happy, it can lift the spirits of others. They in turn pass this happiness on, and it all keeps going like a game of happy tag. It’s no surprise that people say they wish the holiday mood could continue all year. Being in a spectacularly great mood doesn’t mean there has to be a spectacular event to look forward to. In fact, it’s often the simple things that are the most meaningful and create the most joy for people. So what mood do you want to create this holiday? Is it one of joy and fun? Peace and love? Giving and sharing? It’s time to think about what might make a special holiday season for you, your family, and friends. There are a number of things we can do to make ourselves happier during the upcoming holiday season. Here are some:

are of decorating the tree when your children were small. Now that they are teenagers however, it’s just a big hassle to get them to help. Realize that times have changed and that your family may no longer find this ritual meaningful. Put up a few decorations or lights, if you want, but forget about a tree - at least for this year. Who knows, you may find the tree trimming ritual welcomed back by popular demand next year.

Try to develop a positive attitude toward the holiday season. All too often, we tend to focus on the

negative aspects of the holidays - the commercialism, the holiday crush at shopping malls and the unending chores. This year make the effort to see the magic that is part of the holiday celebrations. Regardless of your religious background, you can enjoy the music, the lights and the decorations in the store windows.

Be realistic.

Think for a moment. Do you expect too much of the holidays? All of us have to learn to accept reality - life isn’t perfect. And seldom are holiday celebrations like the glossy photographs we see in magazines this time of year. A focus on impossible expectations may be harmful in that it results in disappointment and unhappiness. It doesn’t matter which holiday you celebrate. Creating a positive mood for yourself and making good things happen as a result applies to any situation. So create your own holiday tradition: preparing to feel joyful and fulfilled. If we can’t have a perfect holiday season, we can have many happy moments. Let these suggestions help you to create a very special gift for yourself - your best holiday season ever!

Be aware off your needs. B d .

Most of us carry on pretty much as we ss always have during the holidays, regardless ve of what is going on in our lives. If you have k, been experiencing a lot of stress at work, n for instance, this may be the holiday season n for you and your family to take a vacation ur or simply to rest up at home. Perhaps your stress has been triggered by a divorce, a m. career disappointment or a health problem. n You may want to opt out of the usual “fun celebrations” and use the holidays as a timee for reflection. You may benefit from somee form of spiritual nourishment, from readingg a few meaningful books or even from visitingg a fitness spa.

Realize that you don’tt have to do everything g yourself. If you’re one of thosee

le long-suffering people who get very little enjoyment out of the holiday season because you’re overburdened with the chores of the festival season, stop waiting for things to change. Take charge and delegate tasks to family members. Are you the one who prepares the holiday dinner for a large gathering of family and friends? Maybe you could cook the turkey and ask the guests to bring the trimmings. One person could bring the appetizers, another vegetable casseroles and others the dessert. You can avoid the bother of serving a hot dinner to a large crowd by setting up a buffet and letting the guests help themselves.

It’s important; however that everyone plays by the rules. If there is a limit to the cost of the gift, don’t be tempted to show off by spending more money. Agree on spending limits for gifts. Talk with those persons in your life to whom you give gifts and from whom you receive gifts, well in advance. Explain your point of view and you may well be pleasantly surprised that they express relief because they are feeling the same way. Those who want to give a more expensive gift can wait until another special occasion such as Valentine’s Day or the person’s birthday.

of gift giving for the many families who are more budget conscious this holiday season:

holiday parties can be especially difficult for those recovering from dependence on some substance. If overindulgence is your problem and you think the temptations might be too great, politely decline invitations to parties. But don’t think this means you must miss out on the festivities. Throw your own small

Limit your spending. Don’t overindulge in Here are two simple solutions to the problem food and drink. The round of Draw names. This means that each person buys and receives one gift. In fact, the element of surprise - wondering who drew your name - can make gift giving more fun.

“We wish you a Merry Christmas.. We wish you a Merry Christmas.. We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New year..” Morning readers! It’s festive time. Santa’s coming with all the goodies for you and me. And as we unwrap our gifts, we move into another calendar year. And of course that ringing in your ears is jingle bells.. a sweet reminder to prepare for the new year’s eve. But before we begin with the New Year feast, it’s time for us to put on out pretty red dresses and white trousers. Bloom promises to make your Christmas the best one ever. Right from dinner table recipes to picking up the right dress for the office party, we have it all! So wake up readers it’s time to prepare! Well our team has one more reason to celebrate. You would be happy to know that Bloom has successfully completed twenty five issues. This could not be possible without you. Cheers! We are excited to know how your Christmas was. Feel free to write us at bloom@qimqatar.com. Your feedback is always welcomed. So be it science, technology, lifestyle or fashion take your pick right away! And Facebook users, keeping liking our page! Follow us on www.facebook.com/BloomQatar


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