Jill spills: Don’t Complain! You Installed Them!

‘Tis the season of family and friend gatherings as we hurtle towards the grand finale of 2023 in less than six weeks. Ah, the joy and chaos commence!

By now, I hope you’ve realized that the only person in charge of your peace is you. If you haven’t mastered protecting your peace, I offer you one of my favorite and infallible holiday hacks: Duct tape down those buttons of yours so they aren’t pushable. By the way, this hack isn’t just for the holidays; it works in the everyday too.  

Remember, we installed our own buttons.

Our buttons of insecurities, grievances, negative vibes, unhealed wounds and the general blah, blah, blah that clutters our emotional dashboard. We've crafted these buttons with great care, making them as irresistible and tempting as a freshly baked batch of goodies. Why? Because my fellow reveler, there's exceptional satisfaction in button pushing to provoke "the reaction." It's like winding up a toy just for the release of it or the delicious anticipation of "Pop Goes the Weasel". Pushing buttons is a universal pastime.

Admit it… We all revel in it a bit, yet we despise when our own buttons are deliberately prodded.

It's time to embrace a smidge more of maturity so we can take full accountability of our buttons. Pointing or flipping fingers exclaiming, “Quit pushing my buttons!” is a great way to deflect responsibility and personal growth. So, grab the metaphorical sledgehammer and obliterate some of those buttons for good. Duct tape the ones that are still a work in progress—don't worry, you'll get there. When the inevitable button-pusher crosses your path during the holiday hullabaloo (or anytime), seize the moment to inject humor into the situation. Flash a cheeky grin and boldly declare, "Ah! I must inform you, I've fortified my buttons with duct tape tonight. They're unpushable this holiday season. How are your buttons doing? I have extra duct tape in my car if you need some." A shared chuckle can work wonders.

Be prepared and expect for your button-pusher-peeps to test your ”unpushables”. They will, and they should. This is the only way you can improve and become the master of your peace instead of creating backhanded banter.  

Remember, your peace is both precious and your responsibility. You can't push a button that isn't there. So, either rewire your inner electrical system to render those buttons obsolete or slap some duct tape on them until you're ready to fully commit to your peace. Simple doesn’t mean easy. If your buttons are getting pushed, figure out why and fix it.  Pause, take a breath, and be disciplined in creating your peace. You’re responsible for the quality of your life and the buttons you choose to install. Did I push a button?

Have fun, be merry, be grateful and for Pete’s sake, lighten up and create some goodness this holiday season!