One of my favorite holidays is Christmas, especially in Iraq.  The anticipation for this day was extremely high as we began our preparations in late November, early December.  It all started with baking delicious pastries called “Kileche” which took hours to assemble and bake.  All the women in my immediate family, around 8, would gather to help.  Despite preparing those weeks in advance, we had to put off consuming them until Christmas morning.  Mom carried on a childhood tradition of purchasing my sisters and me new outfits complete with shoes, socks, and hair accessories to wear on Christmas morning.  Living…

Christmas season impacts us all in different ways.  Most of us have the ability to control our attitude.  We have a choice to make between being happy like Buddy from Elf or grumpy like the Grinch (see last week’s blog).  However, recently I started thinking about the ones who don’t really have a choice and can’t quite control how the holiday season affects them.  You and I may experience stress and slight anxiety due to shopping, hosting family gatherings and the hectic schedules that come from this season.  Being joyful during all the festivities makes a difference despite the occasional…

It is officially December (scary thought, really) with lights and decorations twinkling everywhere, while Christmas music is playing.  We have survived Black Friday and Cyber Monday, making our way through our shopping lists that seem to never end.  Embarking upon December could make you one of the following: You could be happy and jolly like Buddy in the Elf movie.  Soaking up the season and everything that comes with it.  Enjoying the sweet jingle bells and various tunes that only play for one of the twelve months of the year.  Naughty or nice, you get to play Santa in blessing…