The holiday blues, or dumps, or droops, or. . .

Just after the holidays I found myself feeling under the weather. Not ill, just in a funk. No desire to do anything, no energy, no plans to look forward to or prepare for, and no interest in making any. I was just feeling bored and lazy. Part of me was thinking “Hey, Christmas is over, move on” while the other part was thinking “ Even though I don’t particularly like how this feels, I deserve this down time.” I completely threw myself into Christmas; shopping for everyone, hauling decorations out of the attic, trimming the tree, wrapping, entertaining, sending greeting cards, planning the big Broadway show and day in the city, attending at least four of my kids holiday concerts, packing for a vacation, and arranging pet sitters… the list goes on. Not to forget the everyday schedules of chores and dinners, school work, and after school activities, dentist appointments, etc. Yes, I’m pooped come January. So why then, didn’t I take advantage of this mood and get some much needed rest? Because I, like every other parent know that is impossible, there is too much to do on a daily basis. Besides, I am a mother, such guilt would kill me… According to Sparta psychologist, Pierce Skinner it is common to feel a bit blue following big holidays and other major life events that we become deeply invested in. Our body and mind respond by revving-up, and on a day to day basis function above normal level. When the occasion is over, the body is suddenly released from chronic stress. “It would seem like this is an opportunity to feel relief, but in many cases it translates into a need to recover from too long a period of stress and pressure,” said Skinner. “The body result is a need to pull back from an active life and catch up on rest, but the normal demands of life remain and we press on.” I decided to relax, look at some work, and get some articles started, only to find that Santa brought my computer a virus for Christmas. It appeared to have a mind of its own, and it was using it. Forget writing. The weather was mild so I attempted to be productive and rake out my gardens, breaking a nail and losing to a pricker bush. I now looked like a slasher (no, not flasher). I decided I was more than capable of grooming my beautiful golden retriever. It turned out I am so not capable. She now looked like she had track marks left from a lawnmower, or a rare skin disorder. Now that I’ve explained it, my neighbors, I trust, will stop staring… I called my minister to tell him my latest brilliant idea and find myself rambling on, like Billie Graham, delivering many more brilliant ideas, all of which have now been assigned to me … And frankly, they weren’t really that brilliant. Being in my funk I was feeling a bit lonely so I e-mailed a bawdy note to my husband whom, because of evening meetings I hadn’t seen all week. However, my on-the-fritz computer accidentally sent the e-mail as a reply to my daughter’s homeroom teacher. If that guy winks at me one more time …. Unbeknownst to me, I gave a recovering alcoholic a lovely margarita gift set as a thank-you gift. The rehab assures his wife he’ll be out in three months. Somehow I broke a brand new vacuum, and had the nerve to smile as I waved goodbye to my cleaning lady. The poor thing probably searched for that vacuum for hours. How she got those darn rugs clean I’ll never know. I glanced at a cookbook I got for Christmas and decided to make jambalaya. I still don’t know what jambalaya is, but I like the name. My dogs are still eating it, everyone else went to Burger King. I read a best selling novel and still can’t figure out why it was a best seller, but then again that could be a reflection on my mood (although I doubt it). Clearly, I was having little to no success in keeping myself productive as I waited for the gray cloud to pass. Next year I plan to take the advise of Dr. Skinner who suggests that following a big event such as the Christmas season, when there is comparatively, a new period of time that seems relatively empty and lacking in meaning, we need to prepare. “It is always helpful in preparation and anticipation of a major life event to think in advance of something meaningful to focus on after the big event is over,” said Skinner. I agree. And have had an epiphany of my own: After many hours of contemplation and soul searching , I’ve come to the conclusion that, yeah, plastic surgery is definitely in my future.