November’s NOT The Time To Just "Sit By The Fire"

Alternatives To Holiday Hell 

Workshops, Lectures, Fun 

From Halloween to New Year’s Day, we expect to be filled with cheer, surrounded by family and friends, look good, feel good, and write those vile end of year letters about our childrens’, our spouse’s and finally, perhaps our own accomplishments, vacations, blessings and news.  Oy. It's like a car crash--you can't look at it and you can't look away.

Plus, the season is filled with food crises from “what to bring, what to serve, or where to go,” to “I wanna eat it, but I can’t eat it," to "Oh Damn! I DID eat it," to the various New Year’s resolutions which invariably end with “I’ll never eat it (or do it)  again!’ And, it’s not just food, for some the partying take can take frightening turns. 

Finally, when it’s all over, we say, “So, now how the heck do I pay for it?”

Since neither we nor our families, nor our lives could ever measure up to what we expect, recall from childhood, or are convinced everyone else has, the season is a total tar pit, which, if we don’t plan well, will suck us right down in the dumps. So, since I am NOT a dinosaur, here are some November-December follies to foil the the beast inside.  Plan your escape route well. You don't have to fall in.

Forget waiting for the chestnuts to roast because open fires are dangerous anyway, a white Christmas means paying the plow guy, and you really can ring in the New Year any way you please.  

Just plan now to do what you can realistically handle AND what you can look forward to with joy during the holidays. Forget what "was," what "should be" and what "might be." Set your boundaries and let them be known. Do what you can, as you can, when you can. Then stop. Congratulate yourself on respecting your own wishes regardless of what life throws at you. Your private calm could prevent calamity this year. Who knows?

Or, try one of these...

Childrens’ Expression Sessions!  

Playful, creative arts workshops enhance self image and esteem. 

Ages 8-12.

Mondays 4:15-5:15 $35/session

Night Out, Night Off, For Cranky Couples to Re-Connect 

Re-charge, re-think, re-connect through engaging games, creative activities and dialogue. 

Thursdays 8:00-9:00 p.m $40/couple.

Creative Kvetching: Expressive Arts Therapy

Let it out, get it out! Somatic tools for healing, growth, change. Women Only.

11/18 Small group sessions @ 9 or 11 a.m. or 1p.m. $25

October 27th 9:00 a.m. 

Meet and mingle with other parents and hear Allison speak on "Parenting: Simple Tools to Stress Less, Recharge, and Gain Perspective"@ Congregation B’nai Torah Nursery School, Main Street, Trumbull. 

November 3, 10, 17th,  10:30 a.m. 

The Greenwich Senior Center: “What Your Fattest Friends Won’t Tell You” 

Lecture Series,  all welcome 

KIndly e-mail allison@perwinklehealth.com  for registration or location information...and Enjoy the leaf peeping season!