PT360 December 2017

Getting you back to the life you want to live.

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D ecember 2017

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D o Y ou B elieve in M agic ?

my ‘planning cells’) merge nicely. Come early December, I’ve been already been sneakily investigating present interests. Gifts have been purchased and stashed away. I’ve picked out the first possible weekend we can go get our Santa pictures, I’ve gotten any holiday craft projects lined up, and cookie- making ingredients bought. I try to plan almost nothing else, in order to leave time for the unplanned. I never had tons of presents as a kid, as it would have bankrupted my parents of five children. And I, of course, never felt lacking. We went to Disneyland every Christmas Eve, came home tuckered out, and had some cool stuff to open in the mornings. I always looked forward to opening my stocking the most. It was the one thing I could open before my parents were awake. I want my daughter to feel the same, to value the magic over stuff. We limit present spending and instead choose to spend time, a much more valuable commodity. This holiday season, I hope you can slow down, find delight in the little things, warmth and connection in the day to day, and magic to discover you when you’re not looking. WAY better than fruitcake and even delicious peppermint mochas. Shelly Coffman

‘Tis the season for fruitcake, peppermint mochas, crowded malls, and rain anxiety. For myself, I like to think of December as the time of year akin to applying the brakes on a wet rainy day. I like to be careful, drive slow, anticipate the other crazy drivers, and give myself a wide berth. I do that while driving in our now miserable, dark, wet weather, and I also do that simply to navigate throughout the holidays avoiding any holiday disasters. I am delighted that my daughter, now 7, still fully believes in Santa. She loves the magic of all things make-believe, and I dread the day when she stops. I also see that she is choosing to believe despite evidence to the contrary (I am waiting for her to figure out that the Tooth Fairy, Santa, and Mom all have the same handwriting). For now, it’s a delight to live with someone who believes in magic. I despise shopping, however, and am definitely on board with online purchasing. Not having to leave my warm dry house and navigate crazy folks helps my December feel way more sane. That, and I start shopping in October. This is where my daughter’s planning nature (did I mention she planned her birthday party 9 months in advance?), and my planning nature (and, as she would say, she has

W ho I nvented S anta C lause ? Surprising Facts About Your Favorite Holiday Traditions

The holidays are full of traditions, and many of these traditions involve making conversation. Depending on who you’re with, conversations can flow like water, or they slosh along like drying cement. If you need a conversation starter for the next office Christmas party, why not consider one of these fun facts? S cary S tories U sed to be a H oliday T radition Andy Williams’ popular Christmas song, “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” lists a number of common holiday activities, like sledding, hosting parties, and spending time with loved ones. It also includes one activity that seems like it belongs in October, not December: scary ghost stories. If you’ve been confused by this lyric in the past, don’t worry; you didn’t mishear the song. While telling ghost stories might not be the exact holiday spirit you’re going for, in Victorian England, gathering the family together for a spooky ghost story was a Christmas tradition. Today, the practice has all but died out, unless you count Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” or Tim Burton’s “The Nightmare Before Christmas.”

–-Shelly Coffman

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C oca -C ola D idn ’ t I nvent S anta , but T hey D id P opularize the I mage Every year, this idea circulates as “evidence” of how commercialized the holidays have become. As story goes, Coca-Cola “invented” the image of the round Saint Nick and his red and white suit just to sell more soda in the 1930s. Before this, Santa Claus had no “standard” uniform and often wore suits of blue, white, or green. But after Coke got their hands on him, the suit was red from then on. In reality, the image of the jolly toymaker with a stomach like a “bowl full of jelly” dates back to the popular poem, “The Night Before Christmas” written in 1822. As for the suit, illustrations of Santa Claus in a red suit with white fur appeared in advertisements dating back to 1906. This image was already common when Coca-Cola adopted it for their advertising. However, in a time before color TV, Coca-Cola’s full-color advertisement in magazines and billboards may have helped cement this version of Santa for generations to come. S nowmen W ere O nce C onsidered a H igh A rtform Today, we can take artistic expression for granted. It’s easy to get creative when you can take a class on pottery at the rec center or stop by the hobby store to grab some paints after work. However, back in the Dark Ages of Europe, art was reserved for the elite. According to “The History of the Snowman” author Bob Eckstein, “At a time of limited means of expression, snow was like free art supplies dropped from the sky.” After a snowfall, talented artisans and regular farmers alike eagerly headed outside to create their own works of art. Couples would often stroll through the village and check out their neighbors’

For Frankl, this meant providing therapy to others in the camp. As Frankl puts it, once a person finds meaning, they know the “why” of their existence, and they will be able to bear almost any “how.” In the years since “Man’s Search for Meaning” was written, it seems we’ve forgotten a lot of its advice. The Centers for Disease Control found that 4 out of every 10 Americans do not have a satisfying life purpose, and yet, 60 percent of Americans say they are happy. What gives? It comes down to the pursuit of happiness versus pursuing meaning in life. It’s the difference between “I’m going to buy this dress because it will make me happy” and “I’m going to volunteer at a shelter because it will be meaningful.” Happiness involves satisfying an immediate need, whereas finding meaning focuses on making choices that give us a sense of purpose. Even more telling, the Journal of Positive Psychology found that meaningful acts usually involve giving, but reaching happiness often means taking. Because of this, leading a meaningful life, while often more challenging, is also more satisfying. Is it possible that the pursuit of a meaningful life will lead us to happiness? Absolutely. Just don’t expect it to be an everlasting condition. Think of happiness the way psychologist Frank T. McAndrew does: “Recognizing that happiness exists — and that it’s a delightful visitor that never overstays its welcome — may help us appreciate it more when it arrives.” creations. Snow sculptures were so popular that, in 1494, the ruler of Florence, Italy, commissioned 19-year-old Michelangelo to sculpt a snowman in his mansion’s courtyard. Little is known about this lost masterpiece, but historian Giorgio Vasari confirmed it was “very beautiful.” ‘I t ’ s a W onderful L ife ’ W asn ’ t an I nstant C lassic As far as holiday movies go, nothing captures the sincere hope and joy of the season like “It’s a Wonderful Life.” Every year, this classic is adored by families everywhere, but the movie didn’t open to such praise. In fact, “It’s a Wonderful Life” bombed at the box office and left director and producer Frank Capra $525,000 in debt. The only people who took any interest in the movie when it first premiered were FBI agents. They felt the film’s portrayal of bankers as evil was un-American and called it “communist infiltration of the motion picture industry.” The FBI exonerated “It’s a Wonderful Life” in 1956, but the movie would become all but forgotten until 1974, when the copyright expired. Networks could air “It’s a Wonderful Life” on TV without paying any royalties, and boy did they. All through the 1980s, local television stations across America showed the movie constantly, introducing a whole new generation to this magical tale. Paramount reclaimed the distribution rights in 1995, and by then, “It’s a Wonderful Life” was a holiday favorite. There are plenty of stories surrounding beloved traditions, but what’s more important are the stories you make with your loved ones. Whatever holidays or traditions you take part in, may they bring you plenty of wonderful stories for the future. H appy holidays !

G ive U p T he S earch for H appiness

How many books have you seen with the word “happiness” in the title? A

lot, right? It’s such a popular topic because the pursuit, journey, and, ultimately, achievement of happiness is supposed to be the key to a fulfilling life. Happiness is the ultimate human condition; reaching it is our purpose and will bring us contentment.

But before you pick up that guide to happiness, there’s some new >Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4

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