DECEMBERING: Has CHRISTMAS Lost the Magic for You?

 

IT HAS BEEN A TOUGH TWO YEARS FOR SO MANY

IF YOU FIND IT HARD TO GLIMPSE THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT ...

LET THERE BE LIGHT

The reduced level of sunlight in fall and winter may cause winter-onset SAD .

 

This decrease in sunlight may disrupt your body's internal clock and lead to feelings of depression. 

A drop in serotonin, a brain chemical (neurotransmitter) that affects mood, might play a role in SAD .

Light up your room, apartment, or house. It will make a difference.

Before two hurricanes destroyed my old apartment complex, 

a few of us tenants would pool together our money to hire a horse-drawn carriage to ooh and ahh at our city's Christmas Lights.

It was safer than driving our cars and perhaps getting into a wreck by being distracted drivers.

After a tornado ripped our city apart this year there are no horse-drawn carriages ... but I have the memories to light my heart.

KEEP MOVING

Benefits Of Cold Weather Running

1 ) Extra calories burned, during and after. ...

2 ) Feel happier, train harder. ...

3 ) Get a sweat on. ...

4 ) Free up the fat stores. ...

5 ) Boost glucose uptake. ...

6 ) Get one up on Summer. ...

7 ) Create some headspace. ...

Morning runs: try doing your outdoor running in the morning.

ORPHANS IN THE STORM PARTIES

"No, I will not abandon you nor leave you as orphans in the storm."  John 14:18

Being alone during the holidays can exacerbate existing feelings of depression or even cause them, 

so if you’re facing the prospect of a lonely Christmas, gather up your single friends and anyone you know whose family is far away and have a party ... even if it is only by Skype.

A Skype Party is fun:

 No need to dress up, nor eat goodies made by those who mean well but can't cook to save their lives, and no one yucky trying to hustle you under the mistletoe!

You’ll be doing yourself and them a favor.

FIND THE SMILE HIDING UNDER THE SNOW

Laughter enhances your intake of oxygen-rich air, stimulates your heart, lungs and muscles, and increases the endorphins that are released by your brain.

Activate and relieve your stress response. 

A rollicking laugh fires up and then cools down your stress response, and it can increase and then decrease your heart rate and blood pressure. 

The result? A good, relaxed feeling.

Soothe tension. 

Laughter can also stimulate circulation and aid muscle relaxation, both of which can help reduce some of the physical symptoms of stress.

LONG TERM EFFECTS

Laughter isn't just a quick pick-me-up, though. It's also good for you over the long term. 

Laughter may:

 Improve your immune system. 

Negative thoughts manifest into chemical reactions that can affect your body by bringing more stress into your system and decreasing your immunity. 

By contrast, positive thoughts can actually release neuropeptides that help fight stress and potentially more-serious illnesses.

Relieve pain. 

Laughter may ease pain by causing the body to produce its own natural painkillers.

EASY FOR ME TO SAY?

When two hurricanes had me homeless for 7 months, Lifeshare graciously let me sleep on a cot in a corner of their T-Shirt storeroom.

I would joke to the blood techs coming in at 5 A.M. that at least I had no excuse for being late for work 

and when a 4 A.M. blood drive would show up to prepare for the day, they would find me in the freezing storeroom with my Bah, Humbug! Santa Hat on.

ALL THIS IS JUST FRIENDLY ADVISE, MIND YOU