1.  Find out about your relatives or friends, listen to their stories.  Make a
point of adding one new story and one new person to hear from each year.

2.  Reach out to those family members who are distant – maybe an email with a funny story or a holiday card or sitting down with them.

3.  Enjoy the food you eat!  Really notice it, taste it, see if you can discern the various ingredients, savor each bite slowly.  Let each bite be a moment to enjoy and relax.

4.  Enjoy the food, don’t stuff yourself, eat half the amount but savor each bite!

5.  Repair old relationships.  Call a friend you haven’t seen for a while, mend some fences.

6.  Make new relationships – maybe at an office party or church event or online.

7.  Be mindful of current relationships – don’t wait for the other person to make the first move, be playful, be fun to be with.

8.  Look for the good around you.  Assume the best in people rather than the worst.

9.  Each day, notice the good around you.  Focus on it. Notice everything about it.

10.  Allow yourself to have a good time rather than worry about your worries.
Make room for the positive experiences – it doesn’t take away or avoid the pain, just reminds you that there is more than the pain and worry.  Soak up the holiday lights that remind you there is indeed light even in the darkest of moments!

- Nancy Parker, LSCSW