One Party, Zero Stress

I am so filled with gratitude today! Tired and worn out, but filled with gratitude!!!! :o)

If you have read my story, then you know that I used to be the definition of stress.

In fact, it got so bad that it landed me in the hospital at just 37 years old.

As you may suspect, I was especially stressed out around the holidays. There is so much to do! So many things I am responsible for! I must sacrifice so that everyone else can have a good time!

Yes, that was my life. Perhaps it has been yours, too.

This year, thanks to Beyond Freedom and a community of people to support me, I am having the most stress free holiday season of my adult life.

Case in point is last night.

I serve on the Board of Directors for the Little Theatre of Alexandria (LTA). Theatre is my greatest passion in life, and it is a pleasure to serve there as Governor for Membership. However, one of my responsibilities in this position is to host the annual holiday party.

As someone who always felt unpopular growing up--not being invited to parties, etc.--I have, as an adult, always told people that "parties are not my forte." Soooo much old emotional baggage comes up for me when it comes to parties--no one will come, no one will have a good time, people will talk badly about me afterwards, some else will have a party and not invite me. I would prefer to just stay away and let someone else take the emotional risk.

Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on how you look at it), I was "forced" to plan last night's party--partly because it is my job as Governor, and partly because I couldn't find anyone else to do it for me!!!

But here is the amazing thing...

I was cool as a cucumber in a situation which one year ago would have sent me over the edge. One week before the event I only had a sketchy idea of what I was going to do--and yet, I wasn't worried. A few days before the event I was shopping for food and deciding on a menu--and yet, I was calm and collected. The day before the event, I spent some time in the hot tub!

I wish I could relate what a complete turnaround this is for my life. My husband and my closest friends even noticed it.

And I can entirely contribute it to my Beyond Freedom and this community--a community of people who encourage, motivate, and inspire me to relax and enjoy life.

By the way, the party was a HUGE success. Many many people told me that it was the best holiday party and even the best party of any kind that they had ever been to at LTA. My heart is so full of gratitude, my eyes are welling up with tears--thank you, thank you, thank you Beyond Freedom!