The Breathing Spaces Blog

Don’t Be SAD – Avoiding Seasonal Depression

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ART - Dont Be Sad

We’ve been talking about the holidays for the past few weeks, including how to manage the stress of the hustle and bustle, and how lighting candles against the dark can remind us to keep hope alive. For many people -care recipients and caregivers alike – the winter holidays are not always joyful, however. The shorter days and diminished sunlight cause seasonal depression, which can lead to stress, ill temper, and exhaustion.

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All the Light We Cannot See

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ART - All the Light

I recently watched the movie All the Light We Cannot See. It is a story about a blind French girl and a German boy whose paths collide in occupied France as they both try to survive the devastation of World War II.  It was a most moving movie but the thing that stuck with me was the theme and title of the movie. My interpretation of the title of the movie is just because you can’t see or imagine something good in a situation, it doesn’t mean it isn’t there.

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Simplifying Holidays

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ART - Simplifying Holidays

Simplifying holidays to reduce stress is something I’ve been embracing as I’ve gotten older, and life has become busier and less predictable. Several years ago, when I was recovering from knee surgery and couldn’t climb ladders, we downsized our decorating. I skipped the garland wrapped around the bannisters (something you should avoid anyway when you’re hosting anyone with mobility issues), cut the menu in half (do we really need mashed potatoes AND whipped sweet potatoes?), and downsized my tree from an eight-foot behemoth (which STILL didn’t have enough room for my vast collection of ornaments) to a five-and-a-half-foot tree with all the light connections inside the center pole. I’ve also culled my ornament collection, giving some away to younger friends with growing families, and discarding anything that was worn, damaged, or just didn’t speak to me any longer.

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