The Cure for the Holiday Blues

 

Hope

Cheer

Love

The Holiday Blues

Do you or someone you know get the holiday blues? You're not alone.

For so many the winter holidays are anything but joyful. Whether it's missing a loved one who passed, dealing with seasonal affective disorder syndrome (SADS), or dealing with ghosts from the past or hurts in the present, a sense of depression and social isolation can move in to haunt you during the cold winter months, especially in the time of Covid.

To distract yourself from your own self consciousness and dark mood, stay connected while putting your focus on others, and find ways to engage in small ways.

The Messengers

I See You

I'm Here to be Seen

 

I'm Glad I'm Here

I'm Glad You're Here

I Care about You

Warm up your days Doing the Impossible

Warm up your days by doing the seemingly impossible: Reach out to others in need to give what you'd like to get--a bit of human kindness and comfort.  

As difficult as it may be to initiate contact when you're not at your best, you'll discover the connection is as good for you as it is for the others. 

Just being around others for a moment increases the probability others will gift you with some small kindness of their own.

I SEE YOU

Acts of Kindness

Get through your winter blues by reaching out to others with little concrete acts of kindness.  Your kindnesses do not need to take a lot of time. 

Pace yourself according to your energy level. Start small and let each new act of kindness towards others re-energize and lift your own spirits. 

"It was only a sunny smile, and it cost little in the giving,

But like the morning light, it scattered the night,

And made the day worth living."

F. Scott Fitzgerald

A Sunny Smile Scatters the Night

Kindness towards others comes back to us tenfold. The smallest act of kindness--a smile, a well-wishing, a thank you, or praise for a job well done-- can have a big impact in the life of others and brighten our own. 

Learn to scatter the night of winter by putting yourself out there daily with at least one sunny intention of your own. Slowly your dark days can turn to light, and you can freely love life once again.

"When grief sits with you,

Its tropical heat thickening the air

heavy as water more fit for gills than lungs,

The thing is to love life even when you have no stomach for it,

And everything you have crumbles 

like burnt paper in your hands,

And your throat is filled with silt.

Then you hold life like a face between your palms,

A plain face-no charming smile; no violet eyes-and say

Yes I will take you; I will love you again."

Ellen Bass