Last year, I had one of my happiest ever Christmas experiences ever. It happened because I adopted a few residents on a campus for people with intellectual disabilities. Each resident creates a “wish list” and you buy the items so Santa can deliver them. One of my adoptees was ill on Christmas Day and didn’t get to open the gifts I purchased for her until a few days later. Her reaction was so heartwarming it brought me tears of joy.
The very next day I got a message that my brother had a massive stroke with brain bleed and was transported by chopper to the hospital. He couldn’t speak and was in critical condition.
A few days later, he was out of the ICU and seemed to be responding well. Then I received news that my niece had given birth to a healthy and beautiful baby girl.
A short time later, my brother took a turn for the worse and went back into the ICU where he died.
2024 has been another year of joyous highs and sorrowful lows. I’ve been to a few more funerals, but many celebrations, the same niece has baby number two on the way.
Welcome to this the rollercoaster we call life. But you know how this works already…
If you allow yourself to get too high or too low, life becomes untenable because you fall prey to destructive emotions. This is where I find the Stoic philosophy helpful. Take steps to keep your body and mind strong. Eat and drink healthy and exercise every day. Regulate your emotions and don’t spend energy on things you can’t control. This builds your fortitude: courage in the face of adversity.
Whether you’re celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah, or just Wednesday, I wish you many blessings, and hope your holidays are joyous. And if the holidays are normally a hard time for you, may they land softly.
This could be your first holiday season without someone you love. (Or maybe your 15th, but you still feel the pain.) It’s okay to be sad for those you’ve lost. But also let their memory be a blessing. They want you to be blessed. As do I. Remember that you are loved.
Peace,
– RG
LEGAL NOTICE: Due to the new FTC regulations on bloggers, these wishes are subject to the following terms and conditions…
This greeting from Randy Gage (“Wisher”) to you (“Recipient”), is extended without obligation, implied or implicit, for best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, politically woke, gender neutral celebration of the secular winter solstice only. Any similarities to holidays celebrating the festival of lights, God, or birth of the baby Jesus are purely coincidental.
This greeting may be accepted in the context of the traditions of the religious or secular beliefs of your choice, regardless of sexual orientation or operating system preference, and whether you are a member of Team Edward or Team Jacob. This salutation is void where prohibited by law.
Acceptance by the recipient does not imply any endorsements or consent by the Wisher. The good tidings expressed in this greeting are subject to further clarification or withdrawal, are revocable at the sole discretion of the Wisher, and are non-transferable.
The Wisher implies no guarantee of actual results. The extent of the holiday spirit experienced will be determined by the effort recipient puts into it. The claims described are for illustration purposes only. Your results may vary. This salutation is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, and has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.
“Christmas” “God” and “Jesus” are registered trademarks of the Amway Corporation; used by permission, all rights reserved.
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