The holiday season can be a stressful time if you have lost a child or a loved one. As we have seen over the past 2 years now, it can be stressful also when our loved ones are still with us but due to the pandemic and closures and rule changes, we may be separated and not have access to see them or be with them. In this podcast episode, Annette gives us her tips on how to thrive this holiday season and how to survive the holiday with both sorrow and joy in your heart.
Annette begins by saying how she feels the world seems so much more unsettled in 2021 than it did in 2020 during the main part of the pandemic. People seemed so much nicer, more forgiving and accepting in 2020. In 2021 it seems tempers are flaring, people are angrier, they are lashing out. We are seeing higher expenses, staff shortages and people are struggling to access goods and services. There appears to be so much anxiety and frustration out there it is hard for people to relax and find balance and peace.
Annette recently attended a business coaching meeting where they had a monk as a guest speaker. He mentioned something that resonated with her – how the human heart is amazing that is can hold both sorrow and joy at the same time. People today are out of balance, they can’t recognize they hold both sorrow and joy. So many are unhappy that things are not going back to the way they were. We need to accept the sorrow of the past and embrace the joy of today and what is to come. Once we get to this point, we can be at peace.
Annette’s mentions her 4 tips to thrive this holiday season:
- Food: have a great meal, eat your favorite foods, start new food traditions. If your loved one is still with us, take them out to dinner or lunch or pack a meal of their favorite foods and take it to them
- Decorate: decorate a room or a special place and add things that remind you of your loved one. If you are able to visit a loved one that is still with us, take decorations to share with them.
- People: celebrate the people you love, the ones that are here as well as the ones you have lost. If you are able to, bring the celebration to your loved ones.
- Tell Your Story: this is Annette’s biggest and best tip, talk about your loved one, share stories, share your experiences with them. You do not have to have a blog or a podcast or even write a book, just share your stories with your friends and family.
- Bonus Tip – Take Care of Yourself: practice the power of no, if you don’t want to do something, say no. Maybe you are just not ready to at this time, but you will get to that point eventually. Your first priority is to take care of yourself though and allow yourself to grieve if needed
For information on other topics, please also check out Special Needs Companies. For legal advice, inspiration, and other resources, visit our blog here. Similarly, you can always listen to previous podcast episodes (and be sure to leave us a review), or download our free eBook here. We are always looking for podcast guests as well so please let us know if you or someone you know, has a special needs or disability topic you would like to speak about – Contact Us!
Listen to the full episode here!
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For information on other topics, please also check out Special Needs Companies. For legal advice, inspiration, and other resources, visit our blog here. Similarly, you can always listen to previous podcast episodes (and be sure to leave us a review), or download our free eBook here. We are always looking for podcast guests as well so please let us know if you or someone you know, has a special needs or disability topic you would like to speak about – Contact Us!
Annette Hines has been practicing in the areas of Special Needs, Elder Law, and Estate Planning for more than 20 years. Ms. Hines brings personal experience with special needs to her practice and podcasts as the mother of two daughters, one of whom passed away from Mitochondrial disease in November 2013. This deep, personal understanding of special needs fuels her passion for quality special needs planning and drives her dedication to help others within the special needs community.