The Log Cabin Across the Road

•December 10, 2025•

by Janet Roney

A friend of mine introduced me to bird-watching when I was a kid. This led to frequent early morning hikes before school to add to my “life list” of birds I had seen and identified. First, I just wandered around our yard or up and down the road in front of our house. Soon, I noticed that all the strange birdcalls were coming from the trees along the creek on our neighbor’s land across the road east from our house.

When my desire to add to my life list of birds grew greater than my fear of trespassing, I went exploring across the road early one misty spring morning. Soon, as I followed the edge of the brush along the creek, I found myself in an unknown world, even though I was only an eighth of a mile from home. I worked my way through the jungle of brush and trees along the creek and came out against a pasture fence.

•December 10, 2025•

Submitted

What can you do to prevent a holiday season that starts with high expectations from ending in stress and exhaustion? Why are holidays stressful? While the holiday season is portrayed with warmth and connecting with loved ones, it can also bring about stress, anxiety, and a wide range of other emotions. The pressures of social events, religious functions, travel, and family commitments can overwhelm even the most resilient individuals. Moreover, feelings of loneliness and isolation can exacerbate these challenges. Given that most holiday activities occur within 10-15 days, a higher stress level is understandable, even under the most favorable circumstances.

How do we reduce holiday stress? Maintaining your physical and emotional well-being is paramount, regardless of the added expectations and challenges of the season. Here are seven effective methods known to help reduce holiday stress: