This time of year can be, and sometimes is, the most challenging part of the year for many people. The holidays are typically filled with joy and happiness. Families and friends gather to reflect, share meals, and exchange gifts. While many people go about their lives in a routine during the holidays, others struggle. This could be feeling lonely, missing recently lost family members, or feeling like they are not important to anyone—whatever the reason, we need to keep these people in mind.
On top of the situations above, we must also keep in mind the family members who are in the hospital, terminally ill, or fighting personal battles that can weigh heavily on the soul. There are families at hospitals all over the world, not knowing if this will be the last holiday season they will have with the person they love. Families are shouldering the burden of financial troubles and wondering how to make ends meet. No parent wants to think that they cannot give their kids a Christmas, or whatever they celebrate. Do you know if the lights will stay on? Will they still have heat or food? These are questions that so many people across the country are asking.
While a good portion of the country is not experiencing the typical winter temperatures, some areas are getting freezing temperatures, snow, and ice, as well as historic flooding. Our thoughts also need to go to those who are homeless. Those who are homeless usually have a difficult time finding warmth, shelter, and food. At the very least, we could donate to a food bank or soup kitchen, give blankets and coats to a service that distributes them to people in need, or volunteer at a food kitchen or homeless shelter.
While we enjoy our festivities, food, togetherness, and daily comforts, we must also keep others in mind. Saving a life, or bringing a sparkle to someone’s eye, could be as simple as a phone call, a personal visit, a hot meal, or a blanket. People with mental health troubles all too often feel that no one cares or thinks of them. Making that call or visit could change a person’s frame of mind and let them know that people do care for them. Visit older people, as many family members may have moved away. Take a friend or family member out to lunch or dinner, or simply invite a family member or friend who usually doesn’t receive many visitors to the holiday festivities.
I have come up with all this from experience, not only with friends and family, but also personally. There have been many years of loneliness and hopeless feelings, both from the feelings that no one cares and the financial struggles that I have had. It took people just reaching out to make me feel better when I was younger, and my wife to be my rock as I got older. I have seen military members lose their lives because no one checked on them during the holidays. The demons they are dealing with are much more than the average person can bear. The feelings that military members and veterans can experience can stem from the time of year because they lost a fellow soldier in combat, or they may have been notified of divorce proceedings. At the same time, they were deployed, or they simply came home from deployment to an empty house and no possessions left to their name. It is for these reasons that we need to check on everyone this time of year.
So, check in on all your family and friends, enjoy your Holidays, and have a Merry Christmas.
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