Packaged Pretty

Confession: I’m a Hallmark Christmas movie watcher.  What can I say?  I find comfort and joy in predictable storylines, holiday décor covering everything and families coming together to celebrate treasured traditions.  It’s a nice break from reality.  I say that a little tongue and cheek as I certainly have warm memories of fun and festive holidays growing up and continue to look forward to them as an adult…but Hallmark’s version is next level.  It portrays a world where, in the end, perfection exists; a masterfully crafted fantasy bubble that’s fun to delight in, if only for a moment. 

Take away the cheesiness of the whole thing and we’re left with relatable everyday themes: missing loved ones, job uncertainty, financial stress, and broken hearts.  Given that these are the realities of so many of our lives, chances are you or someone you know is dealing with at least one of them.  Unfortunately, Hallmark’s cover-it-in-tinsel cure doesn’t apply here.  But here are a few tried and true antidotes to the blues that do, wrapped up Hallmark style:

Hold your head up
reAch out to a friend
find the Positive
be Patient
make Your bed

take a Hot bath
gO for a walk
belly Laugh
speak kIndly to yourself
take a Deep breath
Ask for help
 one daY at a time
a good night’s Sleep