HAVE A LOW-STRESS HOLIDAY 3 Tips for a Merrier Time
The holidays are right around the corner, and while many people can’t wait to eat turkey and swap presents, others only see stress on the horizon. Especially for those hosting parties, between decorations, big dinners, excited kids, and visiting family, it can all feel overwhelming. If celebrations are happening at your house this year, here are three tips to lessen the strain and keep up the holiday cheer. Recharge First Ensure you’re rested and recharged before the holidays by taking time to relax, getting enough sleep, and engaging in activities that make you feel good. When you’re rushing to get everything done, it can be tempting to skip self-care routines, but that will cost you in the long run. Your daily
exercise and other health activities keep you balanced and ready to face challenges head-on.
Get Started Early Holidays always arrive faster than we expect, so begin preparing early. If shopping for presents is a pain point, don’t wait until the last minute. Decorate earlier than you need to — or better yet, get the kids to do it for you. There’s only so much cooking you can do ahead of time, but ensuring you have all of the equipment and nonperishable ingredients you need a few weeks in advance will reduce both your workload and anxiety. Don’t Expect Perfection The sooner you let go of the idea of a “perfect” holiday, the sooner you’ll be able to have a
happy one. Face it: Something will go wrong. Whether it’s an overcooked dish, a child throwing a temper tantrum, or your uncle talking politics at the dinner table, nothing will ever go just how you planned. So, embrace the imperfections. Whether you’re celebrating this year with a group of two or 20, holidays can be a stressful time — but they don’t have to be. With these tips, your festivities may not be picture-perfect, but they will be a lot of fun.
CLIENT STORY: MICHELLE HARDWICK
One of our dear clients is Michelle Hardwick, whom Wilma calls “cutey patootie.” She was a volunteer coordinator for 4 Paws for Ability. While not the same as a rescue service, 4 Paws for Ability raises and trains service dogs. As part of her myriad duties, Michelle trained people and dogs, walked the dogs and cleaned up after them. She had what she thought was a fairly minor injury when she rolled her ankle while walking a dog. By the next day, her ankle and calf were so swollen she couldn’t walk. She was put on crutches and in a boot for six weeks, followed by lots of physical therapy. Her ankle and foot became hypersensitive, especially when exposed to heat and cold. Her foot would change color and become cold to the touch. After nerve blocks and consultations with several specialists, her doctors determined she had developed reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD). RSD is a painful condition that’s hard to treat and remarkably debilitating. While
spinal stimulators and pain pumps may reduce symptoms somewhat, the condition often isn’t resolved. And claim costs are high as treatment is lifelong. Michelle ultimately moved to Florida with her family, including her service dog, Zima, as the cold Ohio winters caused her excruciating pain. The warm weather and sunshine seem to help. Understandably, folks with RSD have to learn new ways to cope with the pain that now accompanies everyday life. This can be depressing, but Michelle has always worked hard at remaining upbeat and positive. And she does so with her beloved Zima by her side. We’ve represented Michelle for many years. While it’s unlikely she’ll ever recover enough to return to work, she remains upbeat and celebrates life. Her sunny outlook is infectious! This gal, whom my mom would’ve said is “no bigger than a minute,” has a huge and wonderful heart. Our lives are better for knowing her!
Amy and I recently adopted a rescue dog. We lost our bulldog, Kodi, four years ago and Abbie, the schnauzer we inherited from my dad, about three years ago. After seeing ads from organizations like Stop the Suffering for puppies and adult dogs rescued from horrendous situations, we were hooked. While life is somewhat easier without pets (kind of like when our kiddos finally left the nest), it’s next to impossible to resist the soulful eyes and pitiful stories of these dogs who’ve been abandoned or kept in repulsive conditions. Plus, folks will often buy purebreds from breeders, but these rescues need a home.
For the folks I know who volunteer with animals, their work is really a labor of love.
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