It’s the most wonderful time of year...or is it? Statistics tell us that, ironically, during the most wonderful time of the year is when people in general experience the most depression and anxiety. While I don’t like to admit it, I am one of those people who struggle with the holiday blues. Some of us experience depression during the holidays because of the stress of buying the right present for everyone on our list. Others develop the holiday blues because they have lost loved ones around this time of year. Even the fact that the sun sets earlier, so there is less light in our lives during the holidays, can cause us to be a little more down than usual. My depression stems from unmet expectations, both expected of me and expected by me. I have this mentality that the holidays are Continue Reading
5 Ways to Make Christmas 100 Times Brighter
I have a deep love for traditions, especially when it comes to "keeping Christmas. And when traditions hold enough meaning to become an avenue for legacy-building, I'm all in. Although I was unaware as a child of the significant wisdom tucked within the frames of A Charlie Brown Christmas, the profound lessons soon became a part of my family's yearly celebration. And for good reason. Isn't the world still searching for the real meaning of Christmas? Isn't this one message the single most profound treasure that warms the coldest heart and pours hope into the most hopeless situation? Yet, the challenge to fully rest in the beauty of its truth is continually before us. In the midst of all the busyness, we lose sight of how to embrace the hope-filled moments of Continue Reading