Tuesday; November 26

A little later this week we begin what is traditionally referred to as the Holiday Season in America.  Over the next few weeks we’ll get to enjoy Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day – and all the collateral events that go along with them.  For many of us this is the best time of year; however, there are some people who will struggle with the season.  I don’t know if the holidays empirically demonstrate a rise in issues related with depression, but I do know a lot of people feel down this time of year.  In this article, I don’t want to take the approach of telling people who are struggling to get over it, rather I would like to remind the rest of us that we can play a role in helping them.  Here are a few things all of us can do to offset the seasonal blahs:

1.  Keep an eye on people who are going through the holidays for the first time without that someone special.  The sadness and grief that comes from losing a loved one can ebb and flow for years, but may be especially intense during the holiday season.  If we know of a person who lost someone this year, let’s go out of our way to check in on them.

2.  Invite those who are displaced to join with us in our celebrations.  We can’t replace the friends and family of all those who away from home this time of year, but we might be able to fill some of the void.  Whether it is asking them over for a Thanksgiving meal or inviting them to a Christmas program, by including them with our friends and family we might be able to take the edge off of their loneliness.

3.  Go out of your way to see and engage the people who look lost.  Often, it is easy to look in someone’s eyes and see pain or loss.  When you see this, why not share a cup of hot chocolate with them or buy their meal for them.  A smile and a surprise act of kindness just might reinforce to people that they matter. 

Let’s enjoy the fun and family of this time of year – even with those who may not be family or look like they are having fun.  Who knows, maybe a small even a small gesture will keep them from slipping into the darkness of their depression. 

Think About It!

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