A year ago today, I started writing my first Let Go and Be Free book. I had promised myself that I would write for a year and then stop. Since I want to even out all four books, I’m going to continue writing until I hit day 400. I think that will be a nice way of rounding out the series. But for today, how I celebrate the holidays will be different than what I’ve done in the past.

The Center for Disease Control is recommending that Thanksgiving meals consist of only members within your own household to help limit the spread of the coronavirus. What is challenging is that if your children are away at college and coming home, the CDC also recommends that those children are tested or quarantine for 14 days before you see them? We are living in difficult times.

Another challenge for this year is your relationship with those who drink. There will be no holiday work parties for me (last night I took part in a virtual happy hour over Zoom to socialize with my colleagues) and there also won’t be any gatherings at a friend’s house to celebrate the holidays.

But each of us has a different challenge to overcome during the holiday and with the pandemic this year, we’ll have to adapt in different ways. Hopefully, by the time you read this, the vaccine will start to be distributed to people and that the next set of holidays we can see our extended family and friends.

If you’re struggling with dealing with people who drink too much, are verbally abusive, passive-aggressive, manipulative, or act out dysfunctional behavior in other ways, it’s time to start thinking about your boundaries and setting them.

If you don’t wish to be taken advantage of by someone, then tell them how you feel, or if the person is too volatile, then stay away from them and protect yourself.

Be true to yourself and listen to your needs.

This year the holidays will be extra challenging due to the pandemic. What can you do to help yourself and those you love have a joyous time?

Think about that and then work toward it.

Yes, it’s hard, but ignoring a problem is going to make it go away.

Like what you’ve read? Be sure to check out my other posts in my Let Go and Be Free blog.