About this time of year, many of us start to think about what we’d like to see happen in our lives in the coming year. Some of you may be inclined to make a list of New Year’s resolutions that you hope you will be able to keep. Others may have scrapped the idea of making such a list, since they usually are hard to keep with any consistency or collect dust as life gets away from you.

Christmas is a time of joy and celebration but can also be a time of family tension. Often, unresolved family issues can surface at holiday gatherings. You may also find yourself having some unexpected responses. For instance, have you ever had the experience of getting together with your family and feeling like you are back in your family role of peacekeeper, defender or justice seeker?

As we approach the Christmas season, some of you may experience an increased depression or a heightened sense of loss. Since the holidays are a time when people are supposed to be happy, the fact that you are facing loss or experiencing depression is in sharp contrast to that cheerful expectation.

As you anticipate the next several weeks approaching Christmas, are you feeling excited or do you have a gnawing sense of dread? For most of us, this season can bring on additional stress—gifts to buy, gatherings to attend, family visits to prepare for. As parents we can add to our plate the burden of making this the best Christmas ever for our kids. As we see other families planning activities and buying things for their kids, we can begin to view Christmas like a runner in a marathon needing to prepare for the big race. The competition is on!