With the recent Thanksgiving holiday, it often brings reflective thoughts to family and just how important they are in our lives.
It is easy to be so caught up and consumed with our own immediate family that often picking up the phone and calling an extended family member is delayed.
It is traditional holidays like Christmas, Easter and Thanksgiving that get us thinking about our ‘other family’ and somehow taking the time to be with them or make a phone call becomes a priority.
Interesting how we are so caught in society with the ‘holiday’ promotions that it dictates our behaviours.
Maybe we need to re-program and be in touch with extended family all throughout the year in little doses instead of three big ones at the traditional holidays. Wouldn’t it be nice to really enjoy and want to spend time together instead of feeling like you ‘should’?
Imagine how much closer you would feel if you spent short but consistent time together like a ten minute check in phone call every couple of weeks or sharing a cup of tea weekly if you live close by.
The message here is we all lead busy lives but are we making what really matters the priority? I
recently connected with a sister who lives five hours away who I hadn’t had the chance to talk to for awhile, and discovered how many changes she had gone through and immediately felt bad I had not been there for her.
My father suffers with dementia and Parkinson’s disease and every time I see him the disease has progressed more.
It is a constant reminder of how precious and short life really is. A reminder of how we take our health for granted.
The little things like buttoning up a shirt in the morning, taking a shower and eating, are all huge milestones and challenges for him each day that he must strive to overcome.
Yet, we run about our day complaining about the weather, our kids, our jobs and how much work we have to do, without appreciating the ‘little things’ that are actually really ‘big things’.
When was the last time you showed gratitude to your spouse, kids, significant other, parents, brothers, sisters, co-workers, and friends for the small things they do everyday that make your life easier, happier and more fulfilled?
Try giving at least 10 hugs per day and saying “I love you”, and “thank you, I appreciate all you do”, at least five times per day.
Imagine the wonderfully appreciated world we would live in if we all chose to practice these small acts of kindness daily.
Upcoming Events: Women’s Wellness Seminar Thursday at 7:15pm at the Lacombe Chamber of Commerce Meeting room RSVP to jhlifestyles@yahoo.com
Judy Holt is a freelance columnist living in Lacombe.