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.
The holidays are upon us; a time of celebration and... Read More
The Christmas tree is a much loved symbol iinstantly calling... Read More
Why is it that whenever you go to a holiday... Read More
Well, it's almost that time of year again ? the... Read More
Fun, though they are intended to be, The Holidays can... Read More
Holidays and the start of a new year inevitably make... Read More
Mother's Day is Sunday, May 8th! Whether she lives next... Read More
In theory Christmas is a time that is filled with... Read More
John Grisham wrote a book called SKIPPING CHRISTMAS. Amazon.com reports:... Read More
Thanksgiving is the most important holiday of the year.Oh, sure,... Read More
History of OrnamentsIn A.D. 336, an early Roman calendar first... Read More
"Here's to the bright New Year, and a fond farewell... Read More
Regardless of age, almost everyone can remember at least a... Read More
You don't have to spend a fortune this Valentine's Day... Read More
For many people the end of a year is a... Read More
Christmas shopping online is not for you? If you are... Read More
No matter how old we are, we enjoy being remembered... Read More
From the book A Heartland Christmas CollectionIn the first years... Read More
Do you know how to save money at Christmas and... Read More
Are you looking for the Ultimate Army Themed Party Games... Read More
Every year I watch as advertisers begin to promote their... Read More
There she was in all her glory. Long white lab... Read More
While war and poor economic conditions begin to affect people... Read More
Turkey ... Stuffing ... Cranberry Sauce ... Pumpkin PieThis is... Read More
Costumes are a great way to escape reality, and wearing... Read More
The majority of people find themselves carrying additional fat once... Read More
It is holidays time, and you've the money and you... Read More
Too often we forgo entertaining because of the mere thought... Read More
With all the travel, gift buying, last minute cramming at... Read More
Are you looking for special Halloween party ideas that will... Read More
Ah, the beginning of a New Year. A time to... Read More
You may be wondering why I would call this article... Read More
The Holiday season has officially begun and Christmas is almost... Read More
Mother's Day is May 8th. And, you do realize all... Read More
Okay guys, so this is a great opportunity to get... Read More
What a great time of year! It's a time to... Read More
It's the holiday season, and the first thing that comes... Read More
Gazing the wide stretched blue carpet, with blows of zephyrs... Read More
The most beautiful dyes for Easter eggs come from foodstuff... Read More
At the end of the movie "Braveheart," William Wallace is... Read More
Just as soon as the stores put away their Christmas... Read More
"Wouldn't you just know it," muttered my husband, Randy.We had... Read More
This Father's Day, sit back and enjoy a nice cold... Read More
Usually, the hardest part about Halloween is finding the perfect... Read More
When we think of Holiday shopping, we think of all... Read More
Looking for interesting Halloween ideas? Perhaps you are looking for... Read More
Candy canes are everyone's favorite holiday treat. Just think about... Read More
I casually glanced down at my hand, but instead of... Read More
There she was in all her glory. Long white lab... Read More
First, a disclaimer:This article requires information about John the Baptist,... Read More
"This year will be different. I vow I won't get... Read More
One of the most inexpensive ways to create stonewalls in... Read More
Things have come a long way since a Christmas ornament... Read More
One thing you can count on during the holiday season... Read More
North Pole- The word is out! Due to an "unpublished... Read More
I remember vividly as if it were yesterday when I... Read More
Of all the holidays throughout the year, the Fourth of... Read More
KNOW THYSELFThe first key to creating a peaceful holiday season... Read More
Sure you decorate your fireplace and mantel for the winter... Read More
Unique "Drop-A-Hint" Plan Sends Your Gift Wishes Via E-mailSure, they... Read More
The general word on the Internet is the first Valentine... Read More
Christmas is always the time of year we consider to... Read More
"Let us remember that the Christmas heart is a giving... Read More
Going on a family vacation can be considerably more expensive... Read More
First, a disclaimer:This article requires information about John the Baptist,... Read More
Flowers & Valentine's Day go hand in hand. Your Valentine... Read More
Holiday |