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Loretta's Holiday Stress Tips

As 2007 is winding down – what, already?! I am finding the holiday velocity picking up to its usual frenzied pace. It seems we’re all in our regular “get everything done before the end of the year” race. I have spent the last several weeks traveling all over North America and I see that, no matter where we live, we all share a common race against time. We can’t put more hours in our day, so we put more activity into every waking hour … including some of those where we shouldn’t even be awake!

These days the holiday season has become a “perfect storm” of time-compression, travel worries, and a concentrated social frenzy that could turn even a monk into a nail-biter. This year, I thought I would share some of my tips and ideas for surviving a stressful season with your sanity intact … or more intact than most.

1: Make TTFY your holiday mantra. TTFY means “Take Time For You.” As tempting as it is to cram in that extra errand, to squeeze in another volunteer hour because you “should”, or to visit one more friend you rarely get to see – make sure you ‘planfully’ schedule some time to decompress between all your holiday errands. Even Bruce Jenner got to rest between decathalon events! This is as simple as taking 15 minutes to read a magazine, enjoy a good cup of tea or chuckle while reading holiday cards. It’s important to plan some downtime so you can be “up” when you really want to be.

2: “Help Them Help You.” It took an embarrassing number of decades for me to realize that when people ask ‘How can I help?’ they might really mean it. I know I love helping those I care about who could use my talents or energy. Rebuffing offers of help actually robs your helpmates of the opportunity to contribute themselves to you. Try graciously accepting any offers to help at this time of year. Cook together or wrap presents as a group. You’ll find you’re deepening a connection and that you’ll have more energy to help someone else who may need it even more urgently.

3: Lighten Up – literally. Do you resemble those poor souls at the mall, laden down with packages and enormous purses, feeling uncomfortably bloated from super-sized holiday meals as they climb into their gigantic SUVs? Make it a practice to lighten the load in all facets of your season. Try eating light meals or snacks throughout the day to save your caloric splurges for when you’ll really want them. You’ll feel more comfortable and have more energy. Try not to overdo it at the shopping malls. Lighten your load by making a few trips with your packages, shopping online, or purchasing gift cards. If you have the opportunity, you might even try taking public transportation to the mall. You can enjoy the time to read and look out the window while you’re saving all that gas money.

There are 10 tips all together….Click here to view the rest

Women Against MS Luncheon

On December 7th I joined Anthony Everett, Anchor & Reporter, WCVB-TV5 to help support the MS Society in a wonderful fundraising luncheon. The event was smashing success raising funds that will go directly to reasearch and programming to help those stricken with MS. Below are some photos from the event. Enjoy…

1. Loretta signing books. Sally Gould is pictured with her. Sally is the Major Gifts Officer for the National MS Society, Central New England Chapter.

2. Loretta with Gigi Ranno, a chapter member who has MS. She's been a volunteer and support of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Central New England Chapter for many years.

3. Arlyn White, President & CEO National MS Society, Central New England Chapter, Loretta LaRoche, and Anthony Everett, Anchor & Reporter, WCVB-TV5.

Wishing everyone a wonderful holiday filled with joy, peace and those you love, from all of us at Loretta LaRoche & Company to you!!

Staff

Aimee Chevalier,Assitant Director, me, Erik Christensen, President/CEO of Loretta LaRoche and Co. and my son, Dawn Christensen, Marketing Executive and my daughter-in-law, Jennifer O’Brien, Executive Director and Stephanie Gray, Assistant Director.

GET A LIFE

Wonderful memories last a lifetime

A lot of movies lately seem to be about magical kingdoms and other-worldly scenarios. Most of us love a mystical story with a happy ending. The ogre gets killed or skulks away with his tail between his legs, or he has an epiphany and becomes tender and caring. We all need to believe on some level that good will triumph over evil. We leave the theater uplifted and feeling ‘‘all’s well that ends well.’’

Unfortunately, in our daily existence, we miss or have forgotten many magical moments and treasures because life takes on a life of its own. We all tend to get caught up in business, especially in these times when we can be ‘‘on’’ 24/7.

I remember my grandmother simply sitting in her chair mending socks for hours with no distractions like a blaring TV or vibrating cell phone. She would look up periodically and make mention of how good the sauce smelled or to ask if I wanted some biscotti. Her intermissions from mending were always about eating.

Eating, however, was also done without distraction. She didn’t mend and eat, because that would have been blasphemy.

I have much nostalgia for those moments, and I am hoping by writing about my precious memories that you might share yours.

The holiday season brings hours of advertisements about the latest gadgets and widgets to buy. I understand that getting something new and shiny wrapped in festive paper and ribbons is a viable option for some. However, I encourage you to share the magical moments of the past with your loved ones and friends. We have many treasures to give that cannot be bought. It will take more time than going shopping, but nothing can compare with passing on the treasures of the past.

I suggest you write about some of the wondrous and happy times you might have spent with parents, grandparents or siblings. Include pictures if you have them or recipes. They can be funny or poignant.

So much of my career has been buoyed by stories I have shared about my Italian family. My grandmother often said to me: ‘‘Don’t ever forget me.’’ And I never have. My children have embraced the memories and now share them with their children.

Some families may have their share of ogres, but more often than not, moments stand out that left wonderful impressions. Don’t forget them! They cost nothing, but they can mean everything.

Author, humorist, PBS star and Fortune 500 trainer Loretta LaRoche lives in Plymouth. To share your pet peeves, questions or comments, write to The Humor Potential, 50 Court St., Plymouth 02360

By LORETTA LAROCHE
For The Patriot Ledger

Squeeze The Day

When you come to the end of your life, hopefully the memories your loved ones have of you will be more valuable to them than the reading of your will!

Upcoming Events

See Loretta near you!

February 29th, 2008
Duxbury, MA-Celebrate Sadie Hawkins Day with Loretta at the Parent Connection at the Duxbury Performing Arts Center, (6:30pm for Gold Circle reception only)- 8:00pm event. Loretta will be presenting and evening of hilarity with helpful parenting tips, wit and wisdom. Click here for ticket info.

Women in Comedy tour coming to a town near you!
WIC Loretta LaRoche, the Goddess of Guffaw, highlights this fabulous evening of entertainment joined by some of the hottest ladies in comedy. The best selling author, PBS star and humorist shares her unique perspective on life, love and aging. She brings a stellar cast of characters from such shows as Comedy Central’s Laugh Riots and Premium Blend, Last Comic Standing, The Biggest Loser, and Nick at Nite’s America’s Funniest Mom contest for a night that should not be missed. You don’t need to be a woman to enjoy this evening of hilarity! The tour kicks off on April 25th in Providence, RI…

April 25th, Providence Performing Arts Center, RI

May 8th, Rochester Opera House, NH

May 9th, Lebanon Opera House, NH

May 10th, Flynn Theatre, Burlington, VT

Check her calender for a date near you!

Kick Of The Month

Capture those special memories

In this manic, hyper-speed world, one of our most replenishing activities can be slowing down to savor the memories of the special experiences or moments we have enjoyed over the past year(s). This month, try taking a few moments to create your own “time capsule” of your recent memories. Collect and annotate a few recent photos, write and store a quick letter to yourself, a friend or family member which highlights funny or special memories from the recent past. Jot down a favorite recipe for food or drink and clip some items from the newspaper or current magazines, and tuck everything, along with a few of your activity-filled calendar pages into a large envelope and shoebox. Label this “memories of 2007” and store it away for as long as you like. Even if you revisit this collection next year, you’ll be surprised by your new perspective on prior events and will be tickled by the memories and feelings that taking a few minutes to savor the past conjures up. This is a simple and fun project you can do with your family or good-friends and makes a wonderful tradition for all to enjoy. Click Here.

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