Text Box: Do the holidays over whelm you? During the holidays people overwhelm themselves, running around cooking, buying gifts, and not relaxing. The most common thing that stresses people during the holidays is not being able to say no when they already have too much to do. During this time it is very easy to become overcommitted. Nobody knows what the perfect holiday is, because it doesn’t exist. Don’t spend all your free time trying to make it perfect when you could be relaxing. Make a list of the items and activities you would normally buy or do, or are thinking of buying or doing, for the holiday season. Review this list carefully and place each item in one of three categories: Necessary, Nice, or Neither. Take action on the items in the Necessary category. Do not act on the items in the Neither Category. When you want to relax during the holidays or in everyday life spend some time reading your favorite Text Box: magazine, talking on the phone with a good friend, or take up a relaxing hobby. Most people don’t get enough rest during the day that’s why it’s important to get 8 hours of sleep plus 2 hours of relaxation each day. Do what you can and leave the rest, and take short relaxation breaks to let go of tension. Just remember that when it comes to the holidays and other times of stress, you can really make a difference in your own life, and the life of those you love, by choosing the gift of relaxation. The holidays are a time of cheer and bliss. And it’s a time for family and friends to get together and make memories. So when you can feel tension in the air ask everyone what there thankful for or to go out side and have a snowball fight, or build a snowman together. The holidays are a wonderful time, but if you find your household becoming tense, remember what the season means to you and your family. Text Box: Text Box: Holiday Stress Text Box: Special points of interest: Holiday stress and how to cope Preventing drunk and drugged driving Dear Santa letters from sophomores, juniors, and seniors Stop spreading germs; wash your hands! Text Box: Drunk and Drugged Driving Text Box: “…As I got into my car, mom, I knew I’d get home in one piece, because the way you raised me so responsible and sweet. I started to drive away, mom, but as I pulled out into the road, the other car didn’t see me, mom and hit me like a load. As I lay there on the pavement, mom, I hear the policeman say, the Text Box: other guy is drunk, mom and now I’m the one who will pay…” December is National Drunk and Drugged Driving Awareness month. Last year in the nation we had 17,013 people die in an alcohol related accident. Peer pressure among teens is currently at Text Box: an all time high. About 60 percent of all high school students drink alcohol on a weekly basis. The holiday season is a time for family and friends to celebrate and make memories, but teens are often pressured by their “friends” to drink and drive. Most people Continued on page 4