Christmas Is For Kids

The holidays are upon us.  I was raised catholic, and my memories from childhood are of midnight-mass (it was so cool).

In my adult life, I have observed and accepted many different religions.  Where there is love, I am at home.

Christmas to me means giving of yourself with a brand new spirit of good will, that will carry you through ‘til the spring time, when amazing things are possible.

Since I was born and raised in Montana, for me the winter thaw, followed by spring and birth is a powerful time in my heart.  It is symbolic of so many things in life.

Whenever you get caught up in your ego, spend some time with young children and animals.  They can really teach you something about being yourself.  They know exactly who they are.

By the time they hit adolescence, you’ve got your hands full….but those early years are precious innocence.

Christmas Is for Kids is one of my favorite holiday songs.  My mom used to play it every year when I was growing up.  I think the artist is Kenny Rogers, if I remember correctly.

The song talks about adults returning to childhood with the spirit of Christmas.

Ya gotta love it.

If you can embrace the season with a child like innocence you will bring joy into the hearts of everyone you meet.

Magic and wonder are not given the credit they deserve, and happiness really is contagious!

Happy holidays and many blessings,

Carrie

Is the Joy of Christmas Casting a Shadow of Depression On Your Holiday Season?

Are you finding yourself feeling depressed this holiday season?

In every culture, there are special days that bring back memories of home and loved ones.

Those special days can feel bitter sweet when you are dealing with loss.  The pain becomes intensified.

You don’t want to deal with happy people because you just can’t feel happy.  There is just no faking it.

Do you just wish the holidays were over?

Somehow, when the world is celebrating, loneliness is magnified.

John was a patient of mine for many years.  He absolutely loved the holidays.

His devoted wife was a beautiful energetic lady who was always busy doing something creative.  She had an unbelievable garden, lots of cats and dogs, she loved to bake and used to have a delicious care package to give me whenever I visited.

Every Christmas, she turned their home into a winter wonderland.  It was quite a treat, since the hot humid Hawaiian afternoon just didn’t feel like Christmas to this Montana girl!

I have fond memories of sitting at their kitchen table drinking hot cocoa with candy canes.  (With the air conditioning, it almost felt like winter!)

I remember Ida telling me about her challenges making her traditional Christmas dishes without salt.  John really looked forward to the family celebration, but usually ended up in the hospital before the new year.  To much salt, wine, and fun always did him in.

John would say, “Ida, I’m only gonna live once, it wouldn’t be Christmas without your famous Christmas dinner!”

Every year with the house looking like a post card, the two of them would greet their kids, grand-kids, and extended family for the wildest celebration you have ever seen.  My favorite part was singing Christmas carols by the bonfire.

Their family was full of so much love, you could feel it in the air.

Five years ago, John passed away a few days after Thanksgiving.

Ida faced her life without him.  She couldn’t celebrate the holiday.  Her family tried everything to get her to join them at their homes, or even a Christmas vacation for the whole family. Read more

Does Validation Matter?

Are you in constant pain, emotionally or physically?

Have you lost your independence?

Have you lost a loved one?

Sometimes life dumps you upside down and you feel very disconnected from the world.

When you can acknowledge your struggle AND your progress, you can move past isolation and reconnect with your family and your community.

Do you keep a stiff upper lip?

It’s time you relax and give yourself a break.

When the going gets tough, the tough get going.  But sometimes,  Read more

Are You Mending a Broken Heart?

Recently I noticed, in myself as well as my family and friends (both online and off), a constant mention of a “broken heart” so to speak.

Oh, they didn’t see it that way.  I know them to be positive people, so they were muddling through, just seeing the situation as one more story in their day.

I started to notice that these stories were emotionally charged.

Susan felt that “exercise” was such an interruption in her routine.

Helen feels like she is tied to her oxygen machine, like a leash, preventing her from living her life.  Every time she gets up to walk across the room, she trips on the darn thing!

I feel like if I am interrupted one more time I will scream (again)!

Susan and Helen helped me to see my own heartache.

I decided to take my own advice.

Now I feel much better.

If you are suffering from heartache: Read more

Grief Sucks: Ever Had Your Heart Ache So Bad You Thought It Would Kill You?

Grief is inevitable, it is a part of life. The more that we love, the more that we will come to know it.

I know it well today. My good friend Terry died last night.

I miss her already.

I’ve shared Terry’s story with you recently. She had fought so long, but we thought she had finally got a foothold. We thought she was finally out of the woods. Oh was she happy to be home!

I was shocked when my daughters Briana and Makayla met me at my van as I pulled in my driveway after dark.

Briana said, “Mommy, Jonathan called…….he said Terry passed away.”

My heart sank, and my only thought was, “why didn’t I hug her the last time I saw her.”

Though I knew why. I didn’t hug her because I had muddy shoes on, and now I will never get another chance to hug her.

“Why didn’t I get over there more often,” was my next thought.

I know the answer to that question too. There was no excuse, I just got caught up in the busy life of raising kids and working long hours.

But it was more than that……… Read more