Being alone is a challenge for many people. This challenge may loom especially large during the holidays if you are single or newly divorced and without family around you. Holidays are a time to share love, and many people end up feeling depressed when they do not have people around with whom to share love. If you are in this situation, what can you do to make the holidays joyous rather than depressing?
The key phrase here is SHARE LOVE. Too often people think in terms of getting love rather than giving and sharing their love. They don't realize that it is the act of giving their love that is so very fulfilling.
Gail had grown up very lonely in an emotionally distant family, with parents who did not freely give their love and relatives who were also cold and distant. She had married an emotionally distant man, and after 7 years of more loneliness, had decided to leave him. This was her first holiday season alone.
Gail decided that she was not going to be alone and lonely again this holiday season. She did some research on service agencies that needed volunteers and discovered a women's shelter in her area for women and their children who were hiding from physically abusive husbands. The shelter was badly in need of funds for food, which Gail didn't have. What she did have was the time to help gather food. Each day, after her job as a secretary, Gail went around to the markets in her area until she found some willing to donate Thanksgiving dinners for the mothers and their children. Then, on Thanksgiving Day, she spent her time at the shelter cooking, decorating, serving, and having Thanksgiving dinner with these brave women who had left their abusive husbands to save themselves and their children. It was the best Thanksgiving she ever had! By choosing to share her love with people who needed her, she felt filled with love.
Gail had such a fulfilling experience that she found a small part-time job in addition to her regular job so that she could afford to buy presents for the children at the shelter for Christmas. She had such fun buying presents for the children and watching their joyous little faces as they opened them on Christmas day! Gail felt anything but alone and lonely.
Gary was in a similar situation to Gail. He was single, had been an only child to parents who were no longer alive, and had no close relatives. His janitorial business did not give him much opportunity to make friends. Gary had spent many lonely holidays feeling isolated and depressed, and decided a few years ago to do something about it.
Gary loved animals. As a child, his dog had been his main connection with love. After some research, Gary discovered that there was a wonderful animal shelter within a half-hour of his home ? a shelter that loved and cared for animals and didn't euthanize them. Gary started to volunteer one day a week on the weekends ? cleaning, feeding, playing with puppies and kittens, helping to interview people who wanted to adopt a pet, and getting to know the other volunteers. He found that he really connected with the people who volunteered there. Many of them were loving people who were deeply devoted to caring for animals. As his friendships developed, he found he had a new sense of family centered around the shelter. Thanksgiving and Christmas were now sometimes spent with the other volunteers who did not have families, and sometimes with the families of some of the volunteers. Gary's life had become full and fulfilling. The last I heard, he was dating a woman who also volunteered at the animal shelter.
No matter what your life situation is, you can always share your love with others. Instead of feeling alone and lonely this holiday season, open your heart to giving. There are many people and animals out there who would welcome your love.
About The Author
Margaret Paul, Ph.D. is the best-selling author and co-author of eight books, including "Do I Have To Give Up Me To Be Loved By You?" She is the co-creator of the powerful Inner Bonding healing process. Learn Inner Bonding now! Visit her web site for a FREE Inner Bonding course: http://www.innerbonding.com or mailto:margaret@innerbonding.com. Phone sessions available.
Holiday Tips For Stepfamilies: Let Go Of The "Brady Bunch"... Read More
Last year, as I turned 50, (FIVE-OOOH!!!), I decided to... Read More
Whether you know him by Eros or Cupid, this son... Read More
It's a fact; most of us feel immediately stressed and... Read More
The most beautiful dyes for Easter eggs come from foodstuff... Read More
It is 7:45 a.m. in Port Moody, British Columbia Canada,... Read More
How Does Santa Make Out His List?I'll let you in... Read More
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas and the... Read More
You've been nominated; or perhaps your family has issued a... Read More
Christmas time is finally here, and most people during this... Read More
The last Monday of May since 1868, has been designated... Read More
It's back. The holiday season and all the challenges that... Read More
A Creative Dream Come TrueA hush falls over the room... Read More
From the time I was a very little girl, I... Read More
Most of the plants we associate with the holiday season... Read More
What do you get for the man who has always... Read More
What a great time of year! It's a time to... Read More
For most people, Labor Day symbolizes the end of summer,... Read More
"I Just Love It!"You know the scenario. You're sitting at... Read More
Gazing the wide stretched blue carpet, with blows of zephyrs... Read More
After all the gifts have been purchased and placed under... Read More
The Holiday Season can be a wonderful time of year,... Read More
Santa Claus Is ComingHoliday season brings the perennial return of... Read More
Thanksgiving is the time of year when we stop and... Read More
After some recent reports it seems that 90% of all... Read More
It is holidays time, and you've the money and you... Read More
How to develop and heighten rapport on Valentines Day beyond... Read More
"If you love somebody, let them go. If they return,... Read More
Let's take a look at a typical Christmas To-Do list:... Read More
One of the tools I use as a professional organizer... Read More
Easter is Sunday, March 27th! Don't forget the flowers! Your... Read More
Plan ahead this year for your corporate clients and associates... Read More
Every year millions of people exchange chocolates on February 14th... Read More
Aran Sweaters. The Aran sweater takes its name from the... Read More
I love this time of year -- decorations on the... Read More
The holidays are officially here. And so the season for... Read More
It is never too soon to begin planning the perfect... Read More
It's CHRISTmas!Where are the wise men?WOW - The wise men... Read More
This holiday season don't be trendy ? avoid the Seasonal... Read More
So you know someone who likes to "veg out" in... Read More
Getting the right hotel to spend one~s vacation at is... Read More
Mother's Day is approaching fast. This year it falls on... Read More
While mothers have had their special day since 1914, fathers... Read More
Candy canes are everyone's favorite holiday treat. Just think about... Read More
It's not only the candy that puts smiles on kids'... Read More
Traditional hand-blown glass Christmas ornaments never seem to go out... Read More
If you're looking for ways to decorate your home in... Read More
Forty years ago when I was growing up on our... Read More
When it comes to holiday greeting cards, to send or... Read More
First, a disclaimer:This article requires information about John the Baptist,... Read More
Holiday Holiday |
|
| العاب | منتديات هيدى | الزاوية الحمراء | |
|
Pharaohs products egypt products Egypt shopping Shopping in Egypt sho Egypt Bazaar Pharaohs Shoping Center Egypt Pharaohs |