Consumer Reports recently issued a statement advising families with children under six to stop buying toxic laundry pods. The report cites a two year, 17,000 incident survey where children were injured from “swallowing, inhaling or being exposed to the chemical in the detergent pods.” Studies like this should make the average consumer pause and think: If the chemicals in the detergents are enough to cause serious injury to children merely from being exposed to them, then is it really a good idea to be using them on clothing that we wear and sheets we sleep on for a total of almost 24 hours a day?

It’s true that water rinses out a large portion of laundry detergent, but if you take your clothes and put them in the washing machine with no new detergent, you will be amazed at the amount of soap suds that arise. Generally speaking, manufacturers of laundry detergents recommend using far more soap than in necessary. I only use one quarter to one half the recommended detergent amount, and I still can get suds in my machine when putting a theoretically clean load of laundry back in the machine. Residue is designed to stay in our clothing to give them the "fresh" scent that manufacturers tell us we want to smell in our clean laundry.

I never really thought about what was actually in my laundry detergent until I got sick with late disseminated Lyme disease which caused multiple chemical sensitivities. I understood that some laundry detergents were far more harsh than others. Tide causes contact dermitis issues for my dad. I used All Free & Clear for my family because it was what most dermatologists recommended for those with sensitive skin. We avoided “baby” formulations or brands like Dreft which contained fragrances that are likely to cause skin irritation and which aren’t actually better for babies. They’re just marketing gimmicks to sell more expensive detergents. But the fact that all of these mainstream detergents and their competitors contain chemicals made from petroleum products was novel information to me. I began to ask why would I want to put that in my clothes that went on my body.

However, once I realized how sick pesticides, cleaning chemicals and other synthetic products were making me, I began switching my family to natural products in an effort to maintain a modicum of health. When we switched to Seventh Generation Free & Clear, my ears no longer clogged up so terribly. Previous to the laundry detergent switch, I had to take pseudoephedrine 24 hours a day or I couldn’t stand up straight because the fluid in my ears made me so dizzy. Yet when I switched laundry detergents to a natural formula rather than a petrochemical one, I solved the “allergy” problems I had dealt with for the past 10 years that no doctor had found a solution for. I no longer had problems with my ears being full of fluid.

I now strongly dislike all synthetic detergents. They are petrochemical based, and none of them are really all that safe despite what their manufacturers tell us. Their components are highly toxic to my super sensitive nose which acts as my first line of defense against such things. I have a hard time being around people who use heavily scented laundry detergents in areas without good ventilation; even All Free & Clear or other free and clear petrochemical detergents aren’t the best for me to be around for extensive amounts of time though it is still my preference for those who insist on using mainstream petrochemical detergents.

When you wash your clothes, start thinking about what is in your laundry detergent. Begin looking at the list of ingredients. Read the warnings. If you are feeling ambitious, look online for the material safety data sheet (MSDS) for your detergent. See what warnings are attached to it. What can the chemicals in it possibly do to your body and to your loved one's bodies? Medical science has proven time and again that we absorb a lot through our skin which is why there are nicotine, pain, and birth control patches. Do you really want all of those toxic laundry chemicals going into your body all day every day?

© 2015 Elizabeth Galen, Ph.D., Green Heart Guidance, LLC

Toothpaste and I have had a long and arduous history. Starting in high school, I became very intolerant of most types of toothpaste. At that time, my mother would buy whatever was cheapest with a coupon and on sale at the mainstream grocery store. I couldn't stand most of what she bought, so I resorted to brushing my teeth with baking soda for a while. Once I departed for college and was able to get to the store by myself, I bought the plain, original, no fancy frills, cheapest available Colgate. If the toothpaste had tartar control or whitening or any of the other whistles and bells, I couldn't stand it.

Fast-forward 10 years in my life, and I became aware of the issues with fluoride and the other toxic ingredients in many mainstream toothpastes. I was horrified. Thus, my search for a new toothpaste began. After not too long of a search, I found one and only one kind of spearmint Tom's of Maine toothpaste in the gel form that I could tolerate. Anything else was too intense and too disgusting for me to handle. My sensitivity to the toothpaste issue was bad enough that if my ex-husband used the "wrong" toothpaste and then tried to kiss me, I'd reject him until he went back and brushed with the right one. It was amazing to me how often he would forget and use the wrong one!

However, in recent years Tom's of Maine has been bought out by a major corporation and no longer holds to the same high ideals as the small mom-and-pop company it used to be. The toothpaste I used when through at least two formula changes that I noticed; each time I begrudgingly adjusted to the new option though I wasn't thrilled about it. Thus, one day when I was standing in line at Whole Foods, a bin of toothpastes by the conveyor belt caught my eye. I had heard about using clay and salt to brush one's teeth, but I was too lazy to work on creating my own toothpaste out of it. Instead, through suggestive marketing I had chanced upon Earthpaste, a clay and salt based toothpaste. Reading over the ingredients, I was far happier with what I saw compared to the Tom's that I'd been using. Knowing I was very likely buying a product I'd have to push off on my less picky kids (at least when it comes to toothpastes) or my ex-husband, I bought one. What happened was shocking to me: I LOVED the new toothpaste. I greatly prefer the peppermint flavor to the cinnamon; the only other flavor my Whole Foods carries is wintergreen which I've avoided because wintergreen essential oil can be very difficult for the liver to detoxify.

The tube design of Earthpaste is different than most other toothpastes: it is designed to stand on end which forces one to put the cap back on, something I was admittedly bad about previously. The hole which the toothpaste comes out of is much smaller than a standard hole. This is beneficial because it means less toothpaste comes out which means less toothpaste gets used, and the amount that comes out is really quite rational compared to the wide-mouth toothpastes. However, that same narrow hole can get clogged much easier which means on occasion I'll have a wild splurt of toothpaste all across the mirror or the sink. 

It's been at least a year now since I switched brands. My last dental checkup was great. Not only did my teeth look great but I'd had two minor cavities that we'd delayed filling spontaneously remineralize. I can't attribute that to the Earthpaste, though, as I'd had one remineralize previously when I was using the Tom's of Maine. I think my immune system, my diet, and my major efforts at healing my body are far more likely to be responsible as I have not done anything to achieve the spontaneous remineralization.

When I began using Earthpaste, my teeth felt fresher and cleaner. Then, the funniest thing happened for a while after I switched brands: I was induced to start flossing daily. I have no idea what about the toothpaste prompted that strange urge, but unfortunately it didn't last. However, I have remained very happy with the Earthpaste. It's nice when a new product not only meets but exceeds my expectations!

© 2015 Elizabeth Galen, Ph.D., Green Heart Guidance, LLC

I don’t drink alcohol, but recently I had to make an expedition to the local booze store to buy more vodka as I had run out. This was the first time in my life I had ever bought alcohol despite being almost 41 years old. Previously, my ex-husband had purchased it for our household use, and I’d finally run out of the big bottle which he’d bought many years ago.

So what do I do with the vodka if I don’t drink it? For starters, I clean with it. Vodka has great antibacterial properties yet is a non-toxic liquid that doesn’t bother most with chemical sensitivities (at least if they don’t drink it). So I keep a spray bottle of vodka by the kitchen sink, and any time we scrub the kitchen counter especially after cutting up raw meat, we spray it down with vodka on the first pass.

I also keep a spray bottle of vodka in the bathroom, and my ex-husband did the same. We use it as deodorant, again because of the great anti-bacterial properties it has. The bacteria in our armpits are part of what create the body odors that our society doesn’t enjoy. Using vodka as a deodorant helps kill the bacteria and reduce the odors. For me, I am able to just use a vodka spritz most of the time (along with soap and water in the shower, too). My ex-husband found that for him, he needed more. The safer, natural deodorants were not strong enough alone to handle his body odor. However, if he combined the deodorants with the vodka, he was able to get a workable natural solution.

Theater companies often use vodka to spritz the costumes between performances. Rather than having to professionally dry clean costumes on a daily basis, a complicated, expensive and often impossible task, the vodka is used for its deodorzing properties to keep the costumes, worn by the actors under very hot lights, from reeking after a long series of performances. So too can vodka be used to spritz up ordinary clothes that aren't too scented. Simply spritz the area of concern and let hang to air dry.

I find it very amusing that my children now think of vodka as an antibacterial. At one point, one of them asked me, “Do people actually drink that stuff? Why?” I suspect I’ve probably unintentionally created some kind of Pavlovian response in them that vodka will forever be a cleaning agent that they can’t imagine using for other purposes! We keep the bottle under the kitchen sink with cleaning supplies or in the laundry room next to the detergents, probably the last place most people would keep their alcohol collection.

© 2015 Elizabeth Galen, Ph.D., Green Heart Guidance, LLC

God hath given you one face, and you make yourselves another. ~Hamlet in Hamlet by William Shakespeare

Old age is the verdict of life. ~Amelia Barr

A recent ad on Pinterest reads, “Fast fix for gray hair.” This simple statement implies that gray hair is broken or wrong in some way and needs to be fixed, yet gray hair is natural. In men, it’s often a sign of distinguishment and age, but for women, it’s a problem to be fixed. Why does our society promote this double standard between the sexes? I certainly don’t have the answer, but I know the societal problem is real and extremely widespread.

I got my first gray hair when I was pregnant with my youngest at age 28. I was standing in the master bathroom when I spied it in the mirror. My then-husband walked in the room, and I asked him, “Is that a gray hair?” He looked carefully, and then walked back out of the bathroom without saying a word. That gave me my answer! I talked about it with my midwife and her intern at my next visit. They confirmed for me that yes, it was a gray hair. The midwife asked me when my mother got her first gray hair. I had no idea. I told her that my mother dyed her hair with the awful-smelling toxic ammonia-based hair colors for as long as I could remember. My midwife pointed out that that was my answer as to when she first started going gray.

Twelve years later, I have a lot more than just one gray hair. My photos don’t often show the gray as it still blends well, but in person, there’s no missing it. My chemical sensitivities prevent me from dyeing my hair because even the natural dyes often contain less than tolerable ingredients for the chemical sensitive. I’m sure I’d look ridiculous with henna, too. But the bottom line isn’t that I can’t dye my hair: It’s that I don’t want to. My gray hairs are part of whom I am. They’re a mark of age. They show that I’m human. I’ve earned every one of those gray hairs, and I don’t want to get rid of them even if I could dump chemicals on my head.

Society isn’t as kind about gray hairs. I only have a few friends who don’t think that dyeing their hair is mandatory. They don’t want to look older than they are. These normally green living women aren't willing to face the way they look. They bow to society’s pressure to try to look younger than they really are. In the dating market especially, looking older is not considered a benefit for a middle-aged woman. Even though some of these friends are financially strapped, they still find the money for touch ups every three weeks along with regular coloring sessions. It’s not something they consider optional or a luxury.

I think a lot of the fear behind gray hairs eventually trickles down to a fear of dying. The older we get, we get closer to death at least according to a statistical perspective. For me, worrying about death seems kind of pointless. It’s going to happen whether we want it to or not. Rather than worrying about dying, I’d rather focus on living. Now that I’m almost 41, living with gray hairs doesn’t seem like a bad thing. Instead, it seems to be a privilege, a symbol of survival. One of my most recent past lives ended at the age of 23 or so, though I managed to pack a lot of living into those years. However, given the option, a few gray hairs don’t seem like that high of a price for a longer life!

When our society as a whole stops seeing gray hairs as something to be fixed, a lot will change. We will begin accepting ourselves and each other for who we actually are. Superficial things like hair color will no longer matter as we pick mates or apply for jobs. I'm not sure which will be the cause and which will be the effect in terms of gray hairs being seen normal and greater acceptance at large, but I look forward to a day when our culture has evolved enough to accept people exactly as they are, beautiful in their own ways.

© 2015 Elizabeth Galen, Ph.D., Green Heart Guidance, LLC

Many years ago when I was founding my business, I struggled for a name that embraced the meaning which I wanted and which still had the .com URL available for it. I had my heart set on a name that encompassed the concept and/or word “listening” in some way because I see one of my most important tasks as listening both to clients and to higher powers. Since I couldn’t find a name that worked well for me, I did what any other modern woman would do: I turned to friends on Facebook.

Several discussions ensued as friends gave suggestions and I meditated on them. I honestly don’t remember how Green Heart Guidance came about, but when it did, the discussion was over for me. The name was perfect. When you hit on the right decision, your gut will tell you. Actually, your whole body will. There’s a happiness that spreads throughout that can’t be denied.

When settling on Green Heart Guidance as my LLC name, I saw several reasons why it seemed so appropriate at the time. The first was the environmental stance I take. I am undeniably green in my heart in an eco-friendly sense. I help other people who want to change their lives by removing unnecessary synthetic chemicals to improve their lives and the planet’s well-being.

The second ties into the chakra connection: The heart chakra is represented by green. Unlike our Western society which tends to present hearts as pink or red (reflecting the color of the actual organ), some Eastern spiritual traditions see the healthy heart chakra as a brilliant green. On my journey to beginning my business and to healing myself from Lyme, I had to do a great deal of work on my heart chakra. I believe that lessons about love are some of the most important ones that I have been struggling with for many recent centuries. In terms of my work, my heart chakra is also vitally important: I serve others from a place of love.

Many of us have heard popular memes about our spirit animals; I believe we truly do have spirit animals who guide us. For me, my lifelong spirit animal has been an elephant. In the past few years, I have worked with several other animals as well. In addition to all of us having a spirit animal, I also believe we have a spirit flower and a spirit crystal. Up until a few years ago, my spirit flower was a lilac and my crystal was green aventurine. The heart logo on my website is made from green aventurine. (A different view is shown above.) Then, in a powerful shamanic journey a few years ago, my spirit guides changed my flower and my crystal. My initial reaction was not one of gratitude: I responded in frustration because I had just named a business after green aventurine and I was hesitant to give it up! However, I realized how powerful of a statement this was from my guides about the growth I had made at a soul level. The flowers and crystals that had represented and guided me in the first part of my life were no longer as relevant to me. Instead, a white calla lily (shown on the top of my blog) and a red ruby were my new flower and crystal. However, green aventurine is still an old friend who helps me as needed.

In selecting the word guidance, I was searching for something that would convey assisting others. Because of legal implications, I did not want to use words like counseling which have implications that could make it seem I was representing myself as something I am not.  However, guidance is a powerful word to describe the transactions that happen in my sessions with clients.

I continue to love the name Green Heart Guidance and the symbols I have chosen for my business. I am grateful to the friends and the higher powers who helped the name come into being. Any time I see anything with my business name on it, I smile, and that tells me that I definitely made the right choice with this name.

(Thanks to Molly of Green Hope Farm for prompting me to finally write this post. Their flower essences are among my favorites I use in my work!)

© 2015 Elizabeth Galen, Ph.D., Green Heart Guidance, LLC

In many articles about decluttering and minimizing, one of the popular suggestions is that if you haven’t worn a piece of clothing in over a year, you should purge it.  However, in my life, I have found this to be very bad advice.  While I agree that generally we as modern Americans have way too much crap around our houses, having multiple chemical sensitivities (MCS) changes the rules of the game.  Individuals with MCS learn how to selectively hoard things that may be of future use.

MCS is a condition that is technically known as Idiopathic Environmental Intolerance; that translates roughly into, “We don’t know why your body can’t handle the synthetic chemicals that most people can handle.”  For me, a combination of genetics and Lyme disease have made it so that my liver has a great deal of difficulty detoxing the multitude of synthetic chemicals in the modern world. 

For those with MCS, new products provide health challenges because of the chemical off-gassing they do.  Off-gassing is the releasing of volatile compounds into the air (and thereby into our lungs and bodies).  A common example most people are familiar with is paint:  Everyone knows what new paint often smells like. Those are volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that you smell being released from the paint.  There is now no-VOC paint which is almost odorless, and it doesn’t have as many synthetic chemicals to release thereby making it more tolerable (sometimes) to those who are sensitive to typical paint.  It's not the smell that is the actual problem but the chemicals that are released:  Low odor paint can still be a huge problem for those with MCS because the low odor paint has masking chemicals added to cover up the more toxic smelling components of the other chemicals.

Many products that we buy release chemicals in the off-gassing process.  Vinyl or PVC is one of the nastier ones.  New cars are loaded with toxic synthetic chemicals (aka the new car smell).  Many finishes on furniture are created through synthetic chemicals.  So when a chemically sensitive person purchases most things, they must first off-gas the products in order to release as many of the synthetic chemicals as possible before trying to use the product near them.  If one doesn’t off-gas many new products, someone with MCS will likely get very ill from them.  It can take between days and years to off-gas products, and some things never truly off-gas completely.

Clothes are no exception to this:  The preservative “sizing” that manufacturers use in fabric is actually formaldehyde or similar chemicals which are extremely difficult for most with MCS to handle.  Likewise, there are chemicals used in dying the clothing, and there are chemicals used in processing the raw materials.  Some elastics have fragrances added to unsuccessfully cover the cheap rubber smell of them.  New clothing, unless it is incredibly well processed organic clothing, is toxic by default.  Washing the clothing eventually pulls out some of the chemicals, but how many washes it takes can vary widely by the clothing itself.  There are various tricks one can use to help accelerate the detoxification process for clothing such as using enzymes, vinegar, baking soda, hot water, and for non-red clothing, buttermilk soaks, but repeated washing in water and drying on hot in the dryer really is the best way to make new clothing safer for use.  I have to wash new clothing between eight and 20 times to make it possible for me to wear, and I have had some clothing that I’ve given up after 20 washes and passed it on to others who aren’t as chemically sensitive as me.

Buying used clothing is often not much of a help:  It can be even harder to get out fragrances and chemicals from petrochemical based detergents, fabric softeners and dryer sheets than it is to get the chemicals out of new clothing.  It makes me very sick to even try as those fragrances and chemicals release into the air of my home during washing, and so I gave up buying used clothing long ago even though secondhand clothing previously was my preferred way of shopping for both environmental and financial reasons.  I still will buy used clothing if it comes from another chemically sensitive person, but it's hard to find clothes that fit those standards!

One of the additional issues I’ve deal with in battling Lyme is massive weight fluctuation.  When I am doing well, I drop weight quickly and without effort.  However, when I am facing new health challenges, I gain weight equally easily and with no negative dietary changes.  Thus, I have clothes in my closet that range from size 8 to size 24.  I was settled comfortably into a size 16 for over a year until last March when suddenly I started dealing with pancreatic issues; my weight shot back up to a size 22 within a few months even with me eating less carbohydrates, no sugars, and no fruits.  It was (and is) utterly frustrating.  As we kill bartonella and eliminate parasites from my pancreas, my weight has worked its way back down to a size 18 and continues to slowly drop back off.

I had been just about ready to let go of my largest clothes in sizes 22 and 24 last spring when the sudden weight gain happened, and mercifully, I still had all my larger clothes waiting in storage buckets in my closet.  Had I not, I would have had to invest in all new clothing, plus I would have had to go through the hassle and expense of detoxing the new clothing.  Thus, for someone like me who deals with chemical sensitivities and fluctuating weight, holding onto clothing for more than a year makes a great deal of sense.

While I am working to minimize the amount of “stuff” in my house, my clothing collection is not something I am willing to purge.  For my life and for others like me, the advice of getting rid of clothing I haven’t worn in a year is well-intentioned but impractical.

© 2014 Green Heart Guidance

This holiday season, please think twice before you give scented products as holiday gifts.  Many studies over the years have concluded that between 11% and 30% of the population is sensitive to fragrances at some level; there are probably more who don’t recognize that their health issues are due to fragrance sensitivity.  Those people include Cindy McCain, wife of former presidential candidate Senator John McCain, who though she suffers from disabling migraines, still carried perfume in her luggage and made herself very sick when the bottle broke. 

Periodically, new studies confirm that scented products contain dozens of toxic chemicals that can have dangerous short term and long term effects (including being carcinogens).  These products include but are not limited to synthetic scented candles, air fresheners, perfumes, colognes, aftershaves, lotions, and more.  Those most at risk for short term problems are those with allergies, asthma, eczema, and migraines.  All of us are at risk for the long term problems.

I am one of those who is sensitive to fragrances, and I have been all my life.  I’ve always been at risk of breaking out into a rash if I touched a scented product.  Many years ago when I was a newlywed and not yet sick with MCS and Lyme, one of my new in-laws gave me perfume as a Christmas present.  I politely thanked her, set it aside, and mentally noted that I would send it to Goodwill as soon as possible.  The giver, however, kept pressing my then-husband to tell her how much I liked the gift.  He finally had to tell her, “Look, she’s sensitive to perfume.  She can’t wear it.”  While the gift was given from a place of generosity, it was one that had the potential to cause a reaction for me.

Since Lyme disrupted my health, however, I’ve become one of the estimated 1-2% who are severely reactive to synthetic chemicals.  I have a diagnosis of multiple chemical sensitivities (MCS).  My sensitivities are so severe that I can’t be in a room with a plug-in air freshener or a lit scented candle.  If someone gets near me wearing perfume, I have to get up and move or leave the room depending on its size or ventilation.  If I don’t, I end up with fibromyalgia flares, asthma attacks and migraines.  At one point, the chemical sensitivities were so severe that I became homebound because minor exposures would incapacitate me for days.

So this holiday season, as you think about giving scented products as gifts to others, consider whether or not those items really are the best choice for the recipient or those around them.  Scented products can cause short term pain and long term health issues.   As alternatives, consider attending a local farmers’ market, visiting a craft festival, or shopping at a holistic store.  Investigate options in those places for safer products including natural perfumes, candles, and lotions crafted from essential oils; better yet, consider fragrance free items that are far less likely to cause issues for the person receiving the gift.

© 2014 Green Heart Guidance

Once upon a time much earlier in my life, I participated in the madness of Black Friday, though twenty years ago Black Friday wasn’t quite the consumer event it is now.  Most years, though, I spent the Friday after Thanksgiving happily curled up at home with my nose in a book.  In more recent years, my values have switched greatly, and I no longer have any desire to fight the crowds in order to purchase things.  In fact, my overall attitude towards physical items has shifted greatly.  When I make a purchase, I now ask myself many of these questions:

• Do I really need this?
• Why do I want to buy this?
• Is this practical?
  
• What purpose does this serve?
  
• How will this improve my life?
  
• Will this item damage the environment in any way?
• How many days per year will I use this?  Could I rent it instead?
  
• How will I be able to dispose of it when I am done with it?
  
• Will it increase the amount of clutter in my house?
  
• Will I have to clean it?  Is it easy to clean?
  
• Will this item take too much effort to maintain?
  
• Will this item add joy or pleasure to my life?
  
• If this is a gift, how will this improve someone else’s life?

For some of my purchases, the answer is clear with the first question.  Do I really need to buy new ink for the printer?  Unfortunately, yes, that is a purchase that I have to make.  There’s no reason to go further with the questioning.  With other purchases, I have to figure out if it’s a true need versus something I just want.  Sometimes it’s very easy to figure out that it’s just a want and not a need.  Other times it’s not so easy.  I also have to make sure that the joy or pleasure an item is adding to my life isn’t just a temporary purchase glee that won’t bring me true happiness.

When it comes to gift-giving, I now try to use the same type of philosophy.  As I’ve noted in my seasonal stress blog post, I try to give non-tangible gifts whenever possible.  This might be the gift of my time and energy.  It might be donations to a nonprofit, tickets to events, or memberships at a museum.  I also consider gift certificates for meals, delivery services, or grocery stores for those whom that might be the best approach (including teachers who really don’t need any more coffee mugs).  With individuals who live in small spaces including the elderly who may have downsized to live in a smaller home, physical objects can become one more thing to have to find a place for.  For kids, many of them have more toys than they know what to do with.  In all of these cases, giving something that can bring emotional joy or make their lives a bit easier is the better choice than a physical object that will just end up going to Goodwill or Freecycle in a few weeks.

© 2014 Green Heart Guidance

(This is a special encore presentation from my archives.)

One of the hidden blessings of chronic fatigue is that the illness forces you to prioritize and recognize what is truly essential to life.  You no longer have the energy to participate in the seasonal chaos that occurs at this time of the year.  It just isn’t a physical option.  And so, with great regrets at first, you learn to cut back on what you can do for Christmas or whatever holiday you celebrate. While I certainly don’t advocate getting sick just so you can learn that lesson, I can see the benefits it has brought to my life.  I’m sharing a few tips from my experience that may or may not be of use to you in helping reduce some pressure from your life.

Christmas is a season, not a day.  If you believe the retailers, the season begins in October when they start putting out the Christmas items.  While I think it should be shorter than that, I do think it lasts more than one or two days.  Don’t feel pressured to do everything in a short period of time.  Spread out your celebrations.  I’ve held Christmas gatherings on December 8th because it was the only mutually agreeable date.  I’ve been to Christmas gatherings in early January when weather foiled December plans.  Regardless of when you do it, spread the season out a bit so that you don’t overexert yourself.

Decorate as a group or party activity.  Decorating for Christmas takes a great deal of energy.  My family no longer goes all out for decorating, and I do miss parts of that.  However, I accept that I do what I can.
 
One way to still make this happen is to have parties to decorate and undecorated the house.  Most people like to do a certain part of the decorating but not another (the tree, the lights, the ornaments, the accessories).  Throw a minimalistic party in December and invite a few friends to come help decorate and celebrate the season.  Make it potluck so that you are not providing the food as that takes more energy.  If you have special items you are concerned about breaking, set them aside before the party starts.  That way you can make sure they are safe.

In Catholic culture, the season of Christmas lasts from December 25th to January 6th in many countries.  Celebrate the arrival of the three wise men with another un-decorating party the weekend after New Year’s.  Have friends come over again, bringing leftover fruitcake to munch on, and reverse the decorating process.  Use the time to decompress from all the foibles and stresses of the season that you are now packing away until the end of the next year.

Holiday Baking.  I used to love to make many flavors of cookies just like my grandmother did. However, now I am lucky to just get one made.  Dietary restrictions make this even harder.  Truth be told, I don’t need or want the sugar from the baking, but I recognize many others do consider it a part of the holidays.

Consider hosting a cookie exchange.  Everyone brings several dozen cookies bagged or boxed in dozens.  For every dozen you bring, you take home another dozen.  Everyone brings one extra dozen for the hostess so that you don’t have to bake, but you’ll provide coffee, tea, and milk.  Put out some of the cookies in these hostess dozens so that everyone can sample and munch.  This way you can still have a variety of cookies around the house without doing the baking!

Online shopping.  It is a lot less stressful than facing malls full of perfumed people and products.  True, it doesn’t allow you to have the fun of seeing all the objects you are buying first and experiencing the Christmas decorations, but it does cut down on time and stress.  I really recommend it.  No one knows if that name brand item came from a big box store or online.

Buying ahead.  I try to pick up presents for my kids (especially stocking stuffers) as I see items on sale during the months ahead.  I keep a list on my computer so I don’t forget what I’ve bought.  Where I have hidden the gifts is a separate problem:  I need to add that to the list, too!  

Green gift wrapping.  We use pillowcases and ribbons to wrap presents that aren’t going to others outside of the house.  It is far more green than paper that is going to be thrown away after one use.  It also avoids using tape which was a huge chemical sensitivity for me for many years.  If I can, I use reusable gift bags for others who don’t live here.  Regardless, the pillowcase approach makes gift wrapping much quicker and easier!

Give non-tangible gifts.  The best gifts are the ones from the heart.  While many don’t share that belief, you can use this approach for those who do.  Rather than give gifts that the receiver may not like or that may not fit, consider making a donation to a charity like Heifer International, Kiva, your local food bank, or a charity of the receiver’s choice.

Other non-tangible gifts might include tickets to a community play, a local museum membership, or a donation of your time to take a loved one on an excursion you might not do otherwise, like taking them out to dinner.  For someone with chronic illness or physical limitations, some of the best gifts you can give are spending time with them or helping them with tasks they cannot handle themselves.  For those who are living on tight budgets, you can sometimes make an anonymous payment to one of their utilities by contacting the utility company and using their address to access the account.

Remember the reason for the season.  While I am no longer Christian, I do believe in focusing on the values of this time of year rather than the commercialism of the mainstream culture.  It is a time to remember family, to remember our blessings, and to be grateful for all we have.  Consider attending a worship service at the religious group of your choice or go for an extra hike in nature just to appreciate the natural beauty of the amazing world around us.

How ever you chose to celebrate this season, may it be a blessed, safe and peaceful one for you and your loved ones.

©2014 Green Heart Guidance.com