The Christmas blues
Dear Annie: Whenever Christmas rolls around, I feel sick. I want to enjoy the merriment as much as most people seem to. Unfortunately, I have negative associations with the winter holidays. I’m sure I’m not alone in dreading Christmas. How can I put these associations aside in order to have a happy holiday season? —Cringing at Christmas
Dear Cringing at Christmas: It sounds as though it’s not Christmas you’re cringing at so much as the unresolved emotions it brings up for you. It’s also possible that you’re experiencing seasonal affective disorder. Either way, counselling could be a hugely beneficial tool for exploring, processing and, one hopes, moving past these negative associations. Dear Annie: This is in response to Grieving Mom, the mother who received a letter from a woman who is alive because of an organ donation from Grieving Mom’s son. My husband died while riding his bicycle three years ago, and he donated his organs. Later, I received a note from someone who had gotten a tendon from him, thanking us for making this hard decision. We were so grateful to get that letter, knowing that maybe someone else could now ride a bike or be able to walk. My heart aches for Grieving Mom, but I know that the recipient of the organ was just trying to express her gratitude to that mother for giving her some more time. I hope that one day, Grieving Mom can accept the offering of gratitude. —Aching Heart
Dear Aching Heart: I am so incredibly sorry for your loss. Thank you for sharing your experience and offering some heartfelt perspective. Dear Annie: I lost my 31-yearold son to a drunk driver last year. My son was riding his bicycle cross-country. With no hesitation, our family donated every part of his beautiful body so that others could have better lives. Greg would have wanted that. We all have different responses to tragic losses. Whereas Grieving Mom wants no contact with the recipient of her son’s heart and is appalled that the receiver reached out to her, I would embrace the chance to hug the individual who has my son’s heart beating in his or her body. What a gift for the both of us. Please remind your readers to become organ donors so that others might have the chance for a better life and your loved one, in a beautiful way, could live on. — Barry
Dear Barry: I am so sorry for the loss of your son. It sounds as if he was a generous and kind person. Thank you for your perspective. A single organ donor may save the lives of up to eight people and improve the lives of up to 50, according to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.