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Read more3 Ways to Beat the Holiday Blues
Once November 1st hits, it seems you can't escape the holidays: the twinkling lights, the jolly Christmas music, the hustle and bustle throughout every store, the precious time with your family.
But this time of year can also be incredibly sad and isolating, for a whole host of reasons. It could be that you're grieving the loss of a loved one or you don't have a place to go for the holidays. Or maybe you're low on money and the idea of buying gifts is totally overwhelming. Or you're just dreading the somewhat inevitable election talk that will pop up around the dinner table. No matter the cause, we've all felt a little low this time of year. So I've collaborated with my mom, Heidi Furlow, a certified social worker and the director of social work at a senior home on Long Island, to list three ways you can overcome holiday blues this season. Sit back and soak this in, my friends!
1. "Don't expect too much from yourself, be gentle with yourself. It's just another day." If you're feeling lonely or overwhelmed, find ways to ground yourself, like yoga, meditation, or even simply going for a walk in your neighborhood to get some fresh air. Everything seems so hyped up around us, like the holidays need to be perfect, but each one truly is just another day.
2. "Small acts of kindness actually help to improve your self-esteem, and therefore, your mood." Find ways to give back that are relatively easy and work for you. It could be something like smiling at a stranger, holding the door for an elderly person, or surprising a loved one with freshly baked cookies. The idea here isn't that you need to spend days upon days volunteering or give away loads of money. The more random and simple the acts are throughout your day, the better. P.S. This includes small acts of kindness to yourself! Don't forget to take care of you.
3. "Focus on gratitude." If you're with a bunch of family members or friends, take the initiative and suggest each person say aloud one thing they're grateful for. (Sounds hokey, but I did this a few times over the years at the Thanksgiving dinner table with my family and it often led to a surprisingly deep and emotional conversation.) It'll set a positive, mindful tone for the whole rest of the day.
I am so grateful for all of you, my readers, for your support this past year. Galbraith turned 1 on November 19th, and I'm ecstatic that I get to share these stories with you each week. Wishing you all the warmest, happiest Thanksgiving!
Lots of love,
Heather xoxo
P.S. And thank you to my wise mom for contributing to this story. Isn't she just brilliant?!
Photograph by Tom Schelling.
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Read moreA Beachy, Sunshiny Poem For the Last Day of Summer
FIRE ISLAND: MID-SUMMER
Soft waves today; feathery clouds;
apricot horizon; frothing
wake of a water skier
shivers in the cool breeze.
A plover lands atop a sand-castle parapet
while I, in my lounge chair,
write a poem about the joys of summer.
Sudden noise from a boom-box
jolts me and the bird
from our respective perches.
Toes digging into the sand,
we head for the water's edge
where we bury all complaints
for the tide to wash away.
—Rosalie Calabrese
(Published: Third Wednesday, 2013)
You may remember Rosalie as the star of the first part of the Real Gals series, which is a collaboration with the nonprofit GlamourGals. Rosalie is a brilliant 78-year-old New York City–based writer, and it's such a joy for me to read her poetry and to now have the chance to share it with you. (When you read the poem, can you smell the ocean breeze, hear the sound of the boat pulling the water skier, hear the waves crashing, and see the bird standing at the water's edge? I love that "Fire Island: Mid-Summer" truly evokes the senses, and our imaginations, as we read!) Here's a bit more about Rosalie.
The best part of summer to her: "I love sitting on the beach, mesmerized by the motion of the sea."
Her favorite season: "I like summer the best, although spring and fall are nice. Notice I didn't say winter. Brrr. What I like most about fall is the changing of the leaves."
Where she was when she wrote the poem: "I wrote it at home, but the inspiration came from watching that bird at the beach in Kismet on Fire Island."
A book she's loving: "I'm currently reading What I Loved by Siri Hustvedt, and I'm totally engaged in her depiction of art, the art scene, psychoses, medical history, and telling a fascinating story of interpersonal relationships all at the same time. Very impressive."
Thank you so much, Rosalie, for sharing your beautiful poem. If you'd like to read more poetry by Rosalie, you can sign up for her newsletter by emailing her at rcmgt@yahoo.com.
Photograph by Tom Schelling.
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