{"id":822,"date":"2013-09-06T22:30:08","date_gmt":"2013-09-06T22:30:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/gooddaysbaddays\/?p=822"},"modified":"2013-09-05T22:32:43","modified_gmt":"2013-09-05T22:32:43","slug":"ahead-of-the-holidays","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/gooddaysbaddays\/2013\/09\/ahead-of-the-holidays.html","title":{"rendered":"Ahead of the Holidays"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"pic<\/a>Are you ready, yet?<\/p>\n

No, not for this weekend. Not for the rest of this month.<\/p>\n

Are you ready for the holidays?<\/p>\n

As I type this, my fatigue level is 100 on a scale of 1-10. And just as my eyes have beheld the latest of my many prescription refill forms, so, too, have they beheld the first hint of holidays – Halloween candy is making an appearance, barely a few weeks after vendors’ “Christmas in July” sales.<\/p>\n

Oh, my!<\/p>\n

At this moment, I cannot imagine mustering the energy for all the activity that winds and races through Oct-Nov-Dec. But, I can start thinking of how I’m going to approach that magical, wonderful, exhausting season.<\/p>\n

I begin with things health. End-of-year appointments, tests, records checking (is all the emergency contact information\/MedicaAlert info correct?)<\/p>\n

Next, I do a “mock run” of the things I’ll need to do during holiday season – and I cut it back, item by item. As we all know, those holiday days tend to become packed with things known and things unknown (at least right now), so I want to leave ample breathing – and resting – room.<\/p>\n

Then, comes updating and getting ahead of any holiday messages\/cards\/gifts that will be used or needed. I used to hand-address my cards. No more. Printed labels are wonderful things, and with a click of a button, I can change colors or fonts to reflect the season.<\/p>\n

Now is also an excellent time to think about travel plans, and make arrangements or reach out to people you might not be able to visit or see this year.<\/p>\n

Finally, ahead of the holidays, I pray and read up on what makes this coming time of year so special, so profound.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Are you ready, yet? No, not for this weekend. Not for the rest of this month. Are you ready for the holidays? As I type this, my fatigue level is 100 on a scale of 1-10. 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She expected to be writing scripts. God had other plans. A few years after her graduation, Maureen was diagnosed with a life-threatening case of organ-involved lupus. Her life turned upside down as she grappled with the effects of the illness and other health conditions that ensued. She was no stranger to serious health challenges; even as a child, Maureen had survived numerous bouts of pneumonia, flu, and other infections. But lupus made her take a fresh look at her life goals - and took herlifelong, strong Catholic Christian faith and writing in a direction she'd never imagined. Today, Maureen writes and speaks about walking with the Lord while living with chronic pain and illness. Her most recent book is \"Don't Panic!: How to Keep Going When the Going Gets Tough (Franciscan Media). She is also the author of, \"Peace in the Storm: Meditations on Chronic Pain & Illness\" (Image Books\/Randomhouse), \"Beyond Pain: Job, Jesus, and Joy\" (Twenty-Third Publications), \"The First Year: Hypothyroidism, Second Edition\" (Perseus) and \"Taking Charge of Lupus: How to Manage the Disease and Make the Most of Your LIfe.\" She writes the syndicated column, \"Living Well,\" for Catholic News Service, and has also written for Saint Anthony Messenger Magazine, Journey for Women Magazine, The Upper Room Magazine, LupusNow, and Arthritis Today. Maureen's health continues to be a challenge, however she feels honored to be able to bring her perspective, from experience and knowledge, to others. \"Good Days...Bad Days with Maureen Pratt\" is a new way for Maureen to reach people who carry the burden of illness and pain in their lives, or who care for someone who does. 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