Christmas from the heart
With the stress of the holidays and wanting the perfect Christmas, our minds can slip back to days “before caregiving,” leaving us longing for a time where our worries and excitement were much different than they are now. It’s important to take some time, sit quietly, and listen to your heart — what does it want this Christmas?
There are two ways to consider how you want Christmas to be this year.
You can keep the status quo. Consider this if past traditions bring you comfort, joy, and you will accept help from others so that you don’t crash and burn trying to do it all yourself.
Another option is to eliminate things you used to do, do them differently, or start brand new traditions. Consider this if you feel sad or angry because you are feeling the loss of your Christmas joy from prior years and it’s difficult to keep your traditions with your current situation.
Here are the questions to ask yourself before making any decisions:
1. Do I want to keep the traditions of our Christmases past or do I want to make some new traditions?
2. With the time and energy I have, can I do everything I usually do for Christmas?
3. If I can’t do everything, what can I delegate to other people/family?
4. Is there an easier way to do the things I want to do this year?
If you decide to keep things as they were, ask someone else to cook the meal or bring some of the food; buy gifts online, give your shopping list to someone who can do the shopping for you, or have someone stay with your loved one so you can do your shopping; be very clear about the time you can give for the family time together.
Some new traditions might be having the family cook the meal and invite you to their place; instead of you sharing a meal with your family, cook one and donate it to a special family; hospital ward or the hospice; share gifts with a senior’s centre; do a day or random acts of kindness, or have a games night instead of a big meal.
Listen to your heart, it will lead the way. Choose what will bring you joy, peace, and love.
May the spirit of this season...
Harmony, Love, and Understanding... Become a way of life, And may the coming year bring
Hope and Peace to all mankind
Lorna Scott is a caregiver strategist, a member of the Caregiver Coalition of Southeast Alberta and The Caregiver’s Lighthouse; and is author of the best selling book “Walking the Journey Together … Alone.” She may be contacted at Lorna@TheCaregiversLighthouse.com or 403-548-8437.