Enjo y H o liday Toy savin gs What's On Your Child's Holiday Wish List? SAVE 15-40%* -='„:4111, On 1000s of quality toys 114 " you won't find elsewhere! t 311-71' Thru 12/31/15 Doll Houses Play & Pretend Dolls • Stollers • Buggies Furniture • Doll Clothes Kitchen Play Classic Toys C ome December, the world media fantasy, that if we are smart enough, thin enough, rich enough, around us seems to take a enough (fill in break from everyday minutia nice enough, and instead focuses on giving and your own blank there) that we will be gratefulness during the holiday season. immune from hard times and that life And with the school winter break, will be good. The interesting thing is December is a ripe time for family that the hard time itself does not cause trips. I think we all deserve a vaca- our distress. It is the negative think- tion in December, and I would like to ing pattern that comes after it that propose one that is accessible to any of does. Think about a crisis in your life. us — no credit card needed! You feel it in your body when it hap- First, let's think about the pens, and you spring into action hard times we've had this and do what is necessary at the moment. There is no room year. Maybe it was during there for negative thinking. But a health crisis for you or a loved one. Maybe it was a under more casual, everyday financial, relationship or experiences, our negative think- work issue. ing brains step in and can easily Sometimes, during dif- monopolize us. ficult times, we are sus- I propose that this year in Ellen ceptible to getting stuck in December we take a vacation Yashinsky negative thinking patterns. Chute from our negative thoughts. Each of us has our own When we really stop to think unique way of thinking, about it, most of what we rumi- but several common thinking styles nate about today will still be there apply to many of us. Some of us spend tomorrow. Our negative thoughts won't our negative thinking time focused on have fixed or solved our problem, and another person. This thinking style they might have amplified our feelings involves blaming or judging another of powerlessness or hopelessness. person. We often do this from a self- How do we take this vacation? It righteous position in which we are happens in three steps: 100 percent right and the other person Recognize that you are stuck in the negative thinking. This is a dialogue is 100 percent wrong. This position makes us feel resentful and drives with yourself that goes, "OK, I am here wedges in relationships. in this place again:' Some of us spend our negative Acknowledge your wish to move thinking time focused on ourselves. away from this place: "This is making We judge ourselves harshly, with unre- me miserable, and I don't want to be alistic and unachievable expectations, here:' and then feel guilty or shameful that Take a breath, close your eyes for a we didn't reach them. This position second and say, "I am taking a vaca- often leads to depression or isolation. tion from this place:' When you open Some of us spend our negative your eyes, you will be in the present moment ... and in that moment is thinking time by obsessing about something that happened in the past, your vacation. Take as many of those or worrying about something that moments as you would like through- might happen in the future. This posi- out the day. tion causes us to feel anxious and These moments add up and, eventu- keeps us from enjoying the present ally, they change the way you live your moment. The negative thinking seems life. You will go back to the negative to have magnetic powers that draw us place, but maybe less often, and always in and occupy us. We can all think of with the knowledge that your vacation times in our lives when this has hap- is just a breath away. * pened. Ellen Yashinksy Chute is the chief community Life is hard. We are led to believe, outreach officer at Jewish Family Service. through generational stories and Contruction Ride On Toys Arts & Crafts playmobill 11111t Schleich CS Free Convenient Parking • Free Gift Wrap Friendly Experienced Toy Staff 3947 W. 12 Mile Rd., Berkley 248-543-3115 Visit DollHospital.com for extended hours & Sale Details SHOP 24/7 ReallyGreatToys.com DOLL H OSPITAL e4 X4011 ;94 0 7SOLDIER °. 1 SHOP Rehabilitation designed to get patients back to living. 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