As the end of autumn washed away the daylight, just in time, the snow arrived to brighten our days and lift our mood. Like the natural flow of the seasons, I like to think that we humans are resilient and can renew ourselves despite the challenges we face. With the holiday season already upon us, I felt the need to reflect on its emotional toll.
What are you looking forward to in the New Year?
Why do some people feel the holiday blues during this festive time of year? Personally, I associate it with our tendency to look back on the year that is ending. As a new chapter begins, we tend to tally the good and the not-so-good moments that have shaped the year gone by. What’s more, nostalgia and unresolved grief can add to the mix, tipping our scales towards blue.
While it is always good to self-reflect by doing this type of personal balance sheet exercise, there are ways that you can make it more productive and helpful. The holiday season being the emotional time that it is, I suggest that you also include future in your review by identifying three things that you are looking forward to in the New Year. To facilitate your thought process, I invite you to our online journaling workshop on Tuesday, December 6th. This is a wonderful opportunity to get your holiday thoughts, bright or blue, down on paper. Register quickly; places are limited! Not a fan of writing? Art Therapy is also a great way to deal with mixed feelings during the holidays. Our next session will be held on December 15 at 7pm. Contact me to register.
Sending you good wishes
Christmas time can also be a milestone for anyone who is going around the calendar without their loved one for the first time. Before I end this post, I’d like to send a lot of love to those folks and remind you that the seasons come and go, one day at a time. In this vein, the Wellness Centre is collaborating with Deuil Jeunesse to bring you the «Christmas Without You» calendar. In the form of an Advent calendar, this workbook suggests an activity for each day of December leading up to Christmas to help you remember your loved one and cope with your grief .
On a lighter note, I wish you all a safe and happy holiday season and a smooth start to 2023. I am deeply grateful to have found this beautiful community of care along my path and I look forward to continuing this journey at your side.
Take care,
Anaïs
