Thinking Outside the Holiday Box
Christmas and the holiday season are now upon us and many are struggling with COVID fatigue. With the reality of continued social distancing and only interacting with immediate family for gatherings, I felt it was time to look at how to shift our negative emotional battle into a positive outlook moving forward through the holidays and winter months.
Light up the Night – This is the time to string up those Christmas lights. Turn on your lights earlier and leave them on later this winter. Try walking instead of driving to see the lights in the neighbourhood.
Visit 15003 Deer Run Dr SE, the house of Lighten Up Calgary organizers, Christian and Silvana.
Be Creative – Replace or create a new or different holiday tradition this year.
Resurrect Christmas Carolling – Grab a few neighbours, friends or family members, print up some sheet music, dress warm and festive and sing your hearts out to those who have been staying close to home or shut in.
Christmas Dinner Delivery – Are there family members or friends that can’t gather with you that live in town? Go ahead and create your usual amazing Christmas turkey dinner. Pack up the meal and deliver it with all the fixings. Not only will you get to enjoy the aromas and food but your heart will be lighter knowing you brightened someone’s day.
Make Tasty Treats – Experiment with baking new cookies and creating gourmet hot chocolate. Go a step further and deliver some of your bounty to neighbours and friends.
Home Movie Nights – Throw all of your holiday DVDs in a box and pick one to watch each night. If you are digital, make a list on strips of paper and then drawn a title each night. Maybe try a backyard screening on a starry night with all the bon fire ideas mixed in.
Ice Skating – Many communities have outdoor rinks. Volunteer to help maintain them and maybe even buy a new pair of skates this year …it’s great exercise.
The Deer Run Rink Ratz in action. Click for more information.
Backyard Bon Fires – Turn on some music, grab a go mug of hot chocolate, throw a blanket on your lawn chair and enjoy the company of a few more people under the starry winter sky.
Deck the Halls with Warm & Cozy – Pull out all your over stuffed pillows, fuzzy socks, thick soft throws, light the fire place, and light some candles.
Tobogganing – There are hills all over the city. Don’t dress too warm as you will be fired up from all the hill climbing and laughing.
Children sledding on the hill behind the Deer Run Community Centre, a city-approved tobogganing hill. For those with access, you can also sled in Parkland in Park 96. Further away but equally exciting is the spacious Maple Ridge Dry Pond at 1127 Mapleglade Dr. SE. Always remember, safety first! Tobogganing is an activity that you do at your own risk. Helmets are recommended.
Redirect your Thinking – The holiday season is about generosity of time and heart, not materialism. Challenge each other to make or limit the amount of money spent on gifts to force creative and thoughtful gifts this year.
Gratitude, Gratitude, Gratitude – Focus on the things you have control over and all the positive things you have in your life: family, friends, good neighbours, a great community, health, a roof over your head.
A positive mental shift requires setting intention in how we think and focusing on choosing to be positive. Challenge one another to look for the positive in situations and hold each other accountable. I am truly grateful for your readership, feedback and topic suggestions. I wish all of you and yours good mental and physical health through the Christmas and holiday season, and into the new year.
by Nancy Bergeron, RPsych