The holidays are in full swing. Beautiful things are associated: friends, family, faith, happy times, etc. Decorations go up, holiday tunes play, and the world seems a little brighter…a little more hopeful. Of course, there is the other side: stress-time and money, holiday blues, the commercialization of the season. This is the side the negative mind focuses on. Mostly, though people seem to find something joyful this time of year. For me, the most encouraging thing during the holiday season is this: people are better than you think and given the chance they can even prove to be downright good.
I know this isn’t always true. We live in a sad world, a bad world sometimes even. People can be cruel and mean. Usually people are like this not because they are are truly bad, but they are hurt, sad, or broken. In pain they lash out. We were created to be good, but do live in a harsh world that certainly affects us. This sometimes leads us to believe that people, as a whole, are…..well, awful. It’s not true. The people of our practices are living proof of this. I’m encouraged and given joy during the holidays by seeing the goodness of our practice members. They have filled giant boxes with non-perishable food items for local food banks. They have participated in our “Season of Giving” in support of Dr.Jen’s friend and classmate, chiropractor Lacey Picard (please see and support www.loveforlacey.wordpress.com). Our Meredith practice members have joined in supporting the Interlakes Christmas Fund’s mission of giving all families in our area a Merry Christmas. I am so proud of everyone of our practice members in both Pembroke and Meredith, If you haven’t had a chance to participate in any of these giving opportunities, you’re in luck, there is still time to get involved. Don’t wait, get plugged in this week!
Despite talking about giving, let’s get a bit selfish…..giving does help other, but know this: it also helps you. It feels great to help someone. It makes life better to share of yourself. It’s a need for us as humans, in my opinion, to connect to other, to help others, to be part of something bigger than yourself. There’s more though. There is even research demonstrating that giving improves your health- mental and physical. It also appears that it improves your quality of life now and in the future as research shows that volunteering and giving may slow ageing. Giving is to your benefit too!
I wish you all the happiness and health possible. I also hope that you experience the most out of your life. Giving of your time, money, and whatever else you have will help you do that. There will always be things that get in the way, but I challenge you today, to look outside yourself and find where you can help. It seems easy to say/think that someone else will take care of this issue or that need, but you are someone and you are needed.
Happy Holidays, Dr.Graham