7 Tips To Beating The Holiday Blues

The holidays including Thanksgiving and Christmas should be a time of happiness and celebration with friends and family. Often our feelings of anticipation and excitement become feelings of depression and anxiety. According to the New York times, Christmas time actually intensifies our emotions of joy and sadness. Many suffer from depression known as the ‘holiday blues.’

There are many demands during the holiday season financially and stressors with so many holiday parties,
cooking, and travel. Many seniors experience feelings of loneliness and depression during the holidays.
Let’s be sure to remember them! This should be a joyful time for our families.

Here are a few tips to help overcome the holiday blues this year:

1. Pace yourself. Do not over

commit yourself to events

and parties.

2. Don’t expect the holidays to

be just as they were when

you were a child. You are

not the same as when you

were a child.

3. Do get the old photos out

and take a moment to reminisce

with your loved ones about

the ‘good ol’ days’

.

4. Let go of past resentments and

do not bring up the past with your

relatives.

5. Stay connected. Loneliness often

causes us to isolate

but that is the worse

thing you can do. Surround

yourself with

people who care.

6. Talk about it. It’s much

easier to get through

the holidays when we

tell others how we are feeling.

7. Plan fun, low-cost Christmas activities

with your kids, grandchildren

and parents. Baking and

looking at Christmas lights is

great!

Merry Christmas from Southern Companions!

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Bringing Christmas cheer!

 

It's the most wonderful time of the year! Christmas is upon us with beautifully lit trees, colorful wreaths, snowmen, manger scenes and our favorite Christmas carols. The season is a time to celebrate our friends and family. We had the opportunity this week to celebrate our senior community at the Senior Celebration hosted by the Senior Provider Network in Gainesville, GA. Seniors were bused in from the Gainesville Senior Center and other assisted living facilities in the area to be a part of this annual event. With almost 100 seniors attending, it was a beautiful morning of warm, smiling faces.

Bringing holiday and Christmas cheer is such a blessing for those of us who assist the seniors in our community.Gathering around the piano singing some of our favorite Christmas carols like O Come All Ye Faithful and The First Noel, April Cummings and friends led us in a morning of music. Many of the seniors were excited to play the tambourine, maracas, and other instruments along with the Christmas carols.

The message by Pastor Dan Hagmaier at First Presbyterian was inspiring and brought out the humor in aging from 10 to 100. He spoke about the importance of legacy and passing on the library of wisdom as seniors that one can only learn through much experience. He recommended that the group take time to journal or write about their life and life experiences to pass on for the next generation.

 

Kelly Stone, April Cummings & Christine Martinello

There was a lovely spread of food as well and time of fellowship following the morning service. This was a wonderful opportunity to have access to the network of local businesses that serve the senior community as well as receive some goodies provided. 

As we join our friends and family for many celebrations this Christmas season, may we remember the good times of gathering around the piano, singing silent night and spending joyous times with our loved ones. May we recall the smiling faces of our relatives and giggling and excitement of little children. And, may we remember our seniors and surround them with peace, love and joy.

Let's gather around the piano a little more.

Grandmas are special

My grandma turned 84 this week! She is such an inspiration and joy to those around her. Although she has been through her share of life's troubles and woes, she remains lively and hopeful. I'm sure it's her faith that has brought her through divorce, illness, death and many other challenges that some never endure. Only when she is not feeling well does she not have a smile on her face. And, often when I stop by she is reading. Sometimes she is reading the Bible or she is reading something else about faith or politics.

Funny story about visiting my grandma on her birthday. She told me she wanted a new purse so I spent time trying to find one that wasn't a suitcase because I knew she wouldn't want one that is too big. I found a perfect size Tommy Hilfiger bag that was on sale. She loved it. But, when I was almost home she called me and I could tell she was bothered in her voice. She asked, "how much did you pay for that purse?" I giggled. Then I asked her what the price tag said. She anxiously said, "$79.00!" I laughed and assured her I got a good deal. She said she was going to tell me take it back!

Memaw, as we call her, is a bit spicy at times. She has the biggest heart, is passionate about life and faith and  worries more about others around her than herself. I have learned so many wonderful life lessons from sitting on her porch swing or in her den. Most of all, i have learned by example. She doesn't have any musical talent but she can sure bless your socks off by sending you a thoughtful card. My grandma isn't active in the community but she loves her family like crazy. My grandma isn't the most fashionable but she taught me how to be a classy lady. And, she may not have a lot of material things to account for but she has a heart full of love.

I wrote my grandma a song earlier this year called More of Me In You. I'd like to share one of the lyrics:

"you're a rock, a pillar, a safe place to go..."

At 84 years old, my grandma goes to church every Sunday and visits with her friends in Sunday school. My grandma still gardens as she can and walks almost daily. She calls her friends and family on a regular basis to check on us all. She cooks and takes food to our family in nursing homes and visits. And, she reads a lot. I believe my grandma sees every day as a new gift from God and doesn't take a breath for granted. She's a lovely lady and a blessing to so many.

~April

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