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Preparing for a Pandemic Christmas
I have been reflecting on how preparing for a pandemic Christmas does not have to be sad. Christmas is going to feel different this year due to the pandemic. Many of us have felt the effects of this pandemic on our holidays and traditions. So how do we find ways of enjoying the time and perhaps finding joy and happiness despite the disruption? Preparing for Christmas I really enjoy the Christmas holiday season and my preparations usually start around mid- November. Preparing for a pandemic Christmas has been very different. With no work holiday parties, Christmas plays or concerts to attend, it leaves a strange feeling to the season. As…
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Finding a New Normal
Have you been thinking about how to find a new normal in the wake of the pandemic? It has been on my mind over the last few weeks. I had an opportunity this past weekend to visit the Calgary Zoo for the first time since the pandemic. It made me think about how we can find our way back to a healthy routine and finding a new normal in our lives. Being Emotionally Disoriented I have mentioned in other articles the feeling of being emotionally disorientated during the pandemic. There have been many good days, but there are other days where I feel like it is a real struggle.…
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3 Lessons I Learned from Daring Greatly
My book review this month is 3 Lessons I Learned from Daring Greatly by Brene Brown. This is a fabulous book about having the courage to be vulnerable and how it can transform our lives. For anyone who wants to greatly improve their self-care and mental health, this book is a must read. I wanted to share with you the 3 lessons that I learned personally from Daring Greatly. I am Uncomfortable with Vulnerability My first lesson from this book was realizing that I am uncomfortable with vulnerability. Brene Brown writes about what she has learned as a shame and vulnerability researcher. She speaks about her interviews with her research…
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How to Live Fearlessly During COVID-19
As many of us are dealing with the recent pandemic it has made me consider how to live fearlessly during COVID-19. I believe that we do need be concerned about the coronavirus. We definitely need to take precautions, but how do we live fearlessly instead of letting fear and worry steal our joy? Fear Based Living It’s easy to fall into fear based living. There was a period in my life where it felt like fear was an all-consuming reality. I was fearful of so many things, including interacting with others. When we are living in fear it is easy to fall into victimhood. Instead of seeing the world as…
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Art Journal Project “I’m Feeling Blue”
Today is Blue Monday and it is considered one of the most depressing days of the year. Instead of looking at Blue Monday as a depressing day, I believe that there are many reasons to have hope on this day. Yesterday I wrote an article about Blue Monday and the tools and strategies that I use to stay positive when I’m feeling blue. Being Blue As I was thinking about Blue Monday, I had a great idea for an art journal project. Instead of “being blue” as a prompt for depression, why not have it be part of something playful and joyful? I wanted to do an art page that…
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Blue Monday: Reasons to Hope
Tomorrow is the third Monday in January, also known as Blue Monday. This is considered one of the most depressing days of the year. How do we find reasons to hope and have joy on one of the most depressing days of the calendar? What about the other times that we feel depressed or sadness especially during the winter months? What is Blue Monday? Blue Monday was originally created by a public relations company. Using a rather unscientific formula, they determined why Blue Monday is one of the most depressing days of the year. The formula brings in factors of debt, weather, time since Christmas, time since failing New Year’s…
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Finding Joy in the Little Things
Happy Friday! In Calgary it’s a rainy Friday- we’ve had some storms rolling in and we’ve gone from some hot spring days (27C or 80 F) to a much cooler, wetter weekend. Instead of lamenting about the weather, I have been thinking about how we can find joy in the little things and learning to build the habit of gratitude even if the weather isn’t great or our situations aren’t optimal. Finding Joy Takes Effort It would be nice to say that finding joy is easy and that it comes naturally. Sometimes, it feels like an uphill battle to find peace and joy in life. To choose joy is to…
The Art of Self-Care
