Episode 128: Living With Sorrow & Joy This Holiday with Annette Hines

The holiday season can be a stressful time if you have lost a child or a loved one.  As we have seen over the past 2 years now, it can be stressful also when our loved ones are still with us but due to the pandemic and closures and rule changes, we may be separated and not have access to see them or be with them.  In this podcast episode, Annette gives us her tips on how to thrive this holiday season and how to survive the holiday with both sorrow and joy in your heart.  

Annette begins by saying how she feels the world seems so much more unsettled in 2021 than it did in 2020 during the main part of the pandemic.  People seemed so much nicer, more forgiving and accepting in 2020.  In 2021 it seems tempers are flaring, people are angrier, they are lashing out.  We are seeing higher expenses, staff shortages and people are struggling to access goods and services.  There appears to be so much anxiety and frustration out there it is hard for people to relax and find balance and peace.

Annette recently attended a business coaching meeting where they had a monk as a guest speaker.  He mentioned something that resonated with her – how the human heart is amazing that is can hold both sorrow and joy at the same time.  People today are out of balance, they can’t recognize they hold both sorrow and joy.  So many are unhappy that things are not going back to the way they were.  We need to accept the sorrow of the past and embrace the joy of today and what is to come.  Once we get to this point, we can be at peace.

Annette’s mentions her 4 tips to thrive this holiday season:  

1. Food: have a great meal, eat your favorite foods, start new food traditions.  If your loved one is still with us, take them out to dinner or lunch or pack a meal of their favorite foods and take it to them
2. Decorate: decorate a room or a special place and add things that remind you of your loved one.  If you are able to visit a loved one that is still with us, take decorations to share with them.
3. People: celebrate the people you love, the ones that are here as well as the ones you have lost.  If you are able to, bring the celebration to your loved ones.
4. Tell Your Story:  this is Annette’s biggest and best tip, talk about your loved one, share stories, share your experiences with them.  You do not have to have a blog or a podcast or even write a book, just share your stories with your friends and family.  
5. Bonus Tip – Take Care of Yourself:  practic

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