The holiday season is upon us and in full swing. This time of the year can be a time of depression
and anything less than good tidings of great joy for some individuals. Some people feel this way because of the loss
of a loved one since the last holiday season.
For those of us who are separated and/or going through divorce, this can
be a painful time of us as well and is no less important than those who have
lost loved ones due to a physical death. The death of a relationship is traumatic as well. Due to the
fact that the family dynamics have changed, holiday traditions are no more. The children may have to split time between
two different house holds on Christmas. For
those who do not have children, you may be waking up to an empty house on
Christmas and don’t want to get out of bed.
It is so easy to focus on the negative and what is not going right. I want to encourage you this holiday season
and every day to focus on the positive things in your life. I challenge
you, and myself, to shift the mental attitude in such a way that you start
seeing the positive before the negative.
For example, the kids may spend Christmas with you and then the next day
with your ex. The positive thing is that
they are spending time with both parents and they get extra gifts! Some kids don’t have that luxury. You may wake up alone on Christmas day, but
you woke up in your house not in a hospital bed or in a shelter. You are alive to see another day and your
family can’t wait to see you later at Christmas dinner. When you think your situation is bad, I
guarantee you there is someone else’s situation that is worse. Having an attitude of gratitude is important, so be thankful for the little things and greater is sure to come.
