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| By Brianne Fitzgerald RN, MPH |
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The holidays are fast approaching. This time of year has a tendency to magnify any family problems. The print and visual media bombards us with admonishments to drink up, slim down, shop ‘til you drop, entertain like there is no tomorrow and generally sail through this season as if money were no object. The reality may be less wonderful. Our children may be in Iraq, addicted to drugs, failing in school or just plain ornery. We may have the flu, be battling addiction ourselves, grieving over the loss of a loved one, struggling to pay bills or just plain ornery ourselves. One thing for sure; smoking more or using alcohol/drugs to deal with the stress will not improve the situation ever.
Each year we promise ourselves to scale down, get out doors more, use restraint at the mall, eat and drink less, and slow down. Each year many of us wake up on January 2 and wonder what hit us. Where did all that money go? Why am I feeling exhausted, underappreciated and lonely?
How can we really keep it simple during these holiday days of excess given the pressures of the outside world? Starting the day before Thanksgiving go outside every day and walk at least thirty minutes, regardless of the weather. South Boston is safe and Castle Island is a beautiful place to get energized before a long day’s work or to unwind at after a long day. Do not wear ear buds (headphones for you old timers), breathe deeply and let your mind wander anywhere that it wants to go. Take along a child, a dog or even your partner if you can, but don’t argue if they are not willing. If you get outside every single day from now until January you may just experience one of the best holiday seasons that you have ever had. Drink less and buy a smaller, but real Christmas tree. String lights everywhere, light some scented candles and do buy a new CD. These small and inexpensive changes can change the environment at home. Make paper chains with your kids; stud an orange with whole cloves. Randomly hug your teenager or partner. Words are not necessary. Avoid confrontations just for these few weeks. Making cookies from scratch may be good therapy, but buying frozen cookie dough and getting that same comforting aroma with half the work may be more therapeutic. Indulge yourself and your family at no cost. Take a bubble bath, tell your partner that by all means they should get together with some of their old friends and hang out. Extend your teenager’s curfew by an hour, eat gingerbread for breakfast. Have some fun and laugh.
These are dark days, literally and figuratively. Warm your heart up, share what you have with others, smile more, practice some patience, and be kind and thoughtful with no thoughts of the other returning such actions. Button up and go out for a walk right now. We may not have everything we (think) we need, but we do have a lot. You are not living in the cold rubble of post earthquake Pakistan, you are not trying to figure out where you are going to work or live in post Katrina New Orleans. You don’t live at Pine Street, or on Long Island. If you pray, offer up a quick one for those less fortunate than you. They are our brothers and sisters.
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