Take Charge of Your Health - Home for the Holidays
Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love.
-Hamilton Wright Mabie
With the pandemic still in our midst, the holidays are most certainly going to be different this year as many families decide to avoid in-store shopping, travel, and attending large gatherings. While it's easy to focus on what we can’t do right now, many of the best aspects of the holidays -- sharing precious time with family and close friends and creating a festive atmosphere, can still take place. While we have hope that the new vaccines are on their way, our mental health has taken a beating this year. Given the losses we have all experienced, empathy, appreciation, and gratitude for our blessings may be more powerful this holiday season than ever. So why not take the time to be creative and explore new ideas for making merry. We may even find that we develop new traditions to carry forward.
Here are some thoughts to get your creative juices flowing:
Enjoy singing? Gather together some friends and form a caroling group to stroll through your neighborhood, just remember to keep your social distance!
Make cards and send them with recent photos. Everyone always appreciates a homemade card with a sentiment you customize. And be sure to include a recent photo of your friends or family for all to enjoy.
Hold an outdoor tree decorating contest with your extended family or neighbors.
Making cookies is a favorite holiday tradition, but it’s also fun to try some more difficult baking endeavors such as “showstopper” cakes or pies. Check out the TV cooking channels for great baking ideas and have a family bakeoff. And of course, bake and build gingerbread houses – always a hit with the children!
Have a Zoom Wine Tasting Party. Select a few bottles of wine that everyone can purchase and then hold a wine making and tasting seminar by assigning someone to learn about each varietal in the tasting.
Organize a holiday scavenger hunt in your yard or the neighborhood. When the sun is shining, have someone hide ten special items around your yard, then develop clues and start the hunt. Maybe even place a special treasure at the final destination.
Make wreaths for gift giving. Whether for the front door or as inside décor, everyone enjoys a beautiful wreath. Children can make ones for their friends or as gifts for their parents. The internet is full of wreath ideas. Look for ones that can be made with simple household items.
Watch your family’s favorite holiday movies and experiment with interesting popcorn flavors. Have everyone drop their favorite movie choice into a hat and then the “movie of the night” is selected. To make interesting popcorn flavors, check out thee web and consider a sweet choice for kids and a savory flavor for the adults, check out parmesan truffle (yum)! Egg Nog anyone?
“Deck your halls” with festive lights. This can be a fun family project. There are many different types of lights to explore on the internet. Hang lights appropriate for the living room, kitchen, and the kid’s bedrooms to add brightness and cheer to your home.
Take the kids for a walk and collect evergreens or other foliage to display and add a holiday feel to your home.
Make homemade holiday decorations. Homemade holiday decorations can be proudly displayed year after year and even become a family heirloom, passed through the generations. Whether it is painting Christmas tree balls, making table or mantle decorations, creating snow globes, or using old candles to make new ones…there are so many creative projects, for people of all ages. For ideas, click here and don't forget to share your photos with us.
Decorate white t-shirts utilizing fabric paint and give them as holiday gifts. Children’s hand prints are always a favorite for grandparents.
Fill the house with upbeat music. Whether it is playing music from your favorite artists or from talented musicians in your own family, music is a great way to fill our homes with joy. How about some karaoke? It may even lead to a dance-a-thon!
Check out the closest drive in movie theater. They may be open for business! Don’t forget to take blankets and snacks.
Share your favorite book list, movie list, song list. With so many media choices we all appreciate suggestions from our trusted friends. Develop your “favorites list” and share. (Miracle Collectors Joan and co-author Katie have upbeat holiday and inspirational Spotify playlists.)
Leverage social media to share laughs and memories and see the faces of those we hold dear.
If possible, you could also share your time and talents with your community. It will pay dividends and help put you in the holiday spirit:
Reach out to others who may be alone and ask how you can support them. So many people are in need of logistical, physical, and emotional support. How can you apply your empathy, time, or skills to improve the quality of life for someone else?
Volunteer for a non-profit organization in your community. There are many non-profit organizations in need of virtual volunteers who can work from their homes. Select an organization that strikes a special chord with you. See the difference you can make and it is likely you will want to continue your service well after the holidays are over.
Help organize or participate in a food or clothing drive. Check out area community centers and churches for ideas and ways to get involved.
The holidays are an opportunity to pay it forward, to do a good deed, and reap the reward of immersion in your community. No need to be fancy, have fun and may you find peace this holiday season with the hope of a return to a kinder and more compassionate world in 2021.