Last year, I witnessed a “drive-by” baby shower for my neighbors across the street. It was impressive to see the decorated table they’d set up at the curb, where party favors, bottled water, balloons, and snacks were dispensed to friends and family as they came by in their cars to drop off gifts.
At Christmas, families all over the world connected by phone and through video rather than visit in person. It was a quiet holiday for us; we put up a small tree and listened to our favorite holiday music, and stayed home.
In 2020, the Pandemic changed many of our traditional customs, forcing us to focus on what is truly meaningful in our lives. Where we once took family gatherings for granted, we now have had to endure a time when we could not gather to celebrate milestones such as birth, graduations, holidays, weddings, and funerals. People lost their jobs, and many started to work from home.
It’s been an exceptionally painful time for folks who have a family member living in a nursing home. Not being able to visit and the presence of so much illness has meant wondering if we would ever see our parent, grandparent, or spouse again in this life.
Still, we found clever ways to connect with the people and things that mean the most to us, celebrating life’s milestones “pandemic style.” I think we did well, tapping into our inner wisdom and creativity to solve the problems the pandemic presented!
As we approach the winter holiday season for 2021, reports say that travel will be increasing over last year. We’ve also heard that supply-chain problems are likely to make delivery of gifts a challenge, and we’re being warned to submit our orders early. Prices are up for both travel and consumer goods.
And people are still getting sick.
The bottom line is that while our celebrations are still likely to be different this year, we seem to have found new ways to bring stress into our lives during the holiday season.
I’ll be doing a Facebook Live this coming Friday, 11/5/21, at 11:00 a.m. eastern time, to talk about the upcoming holiday season. We’ll explore how to plan now to make this time meaningful and serene, in spite of the press to go more, do more, and “be” more.
I’d love for you to join me! Let me know what you’re looking forward to, and what you might be dreading as you anticipate the coming holidays. We’ll talk about some strategies for coping with stress, and resources to support your best vision for the holidays.
Some news about the coming holiday season:
How the Global Supply Chain Might Ruin Christmas (and How to Adjust). (NY Times Wirecutter) https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/money/supply-chain/
Sunny Outlook for the 2021 Holiday Travel Season (Forbes) https://www.forbes.com/advisor/travel-insurance/holiday-travel-trends-2021/
These will be the Busiest Days of the 2021 Holiday Season (Travel & Leisure) https://www.travelandleisure.com/holiday-travel/busiest-travel-days-holidays-2021
Lisa Kendall is a social work gerontologist who is passionate about supporting well-being for people who are involved with aging, Elder care, and end-of-life issues by harnessing their creativity and inner wisdom. Take the Caregiver Well-Being Assessment at https://lisakendallconsulting.scoreapp.com
