Life Center of Galax’s Post

Ideas for Positive Holiday Interactions Here are a few ways to connect with your loved one this season, inspired by principles of respect, purpose, and engagement: 1. Simplified Traditions 2. Meaningful Conversations 3. Shared Purpose 4. Quiet and Calm Activities Creating a Warm and Inclusive Atmosphere Sometimes, holiday gatherings can be overstimulating for older adults. Be mindful of their comfort by:            •          Keeping gatherings small and familiar.            •          Setting aside a quiet space they can retreat to if needed.            •          Watching for signs of fatigue and adjusting activities accordingly. Even in a group setting, find ways to include them meaningfully, like sharing a toast in their honor or inviting them to lead a short blessing or toast. To learn extra tips on how to make the holidays extra special with your aging loved one check out my blog at https://lnkd.in/gBhAwjNu

With the holidays just around the corner, here's a few tips to help keep your loved ones safe when they come to visit:https://lnkd.in/gNYeadRm

This is your sign to stop trying to make the holidays in your home so magical and start giving everyone the gift they really want this year: your presence. That's "presence," not "presents." It doesn't matter if you live in your home with your 42 kids or if you live in a home by yourself. The people in your home deserve your presence. Your time. Your attention. So how can we do that? What does that look like during the busiest time of the year? I think it means embracing your inner Hombody ❤️ This month I am going to share all sorts of Homebody Holiday content to help you tune out the rest of the world and be present with the people in your home. But first things first, audit your calendar. Set a timer for 20 minutes and look through your calendar this month. What must stay? What can go? And what do you not want to miss out on? Circle the dates you have NOTHING planned and commit to keeping them open. I will help you fill them with things you can do in the comfort of your own home while still embracing the holiday season. Who's up for becoming even more of a homebody this season? Raise your hand below and let's do this together!

As we quickly approach Christmas, after one truly overwhelming year of weather disasters, a Presidential Election, and a not-so-stable economy...I ask you to keep in mind the "Reason for the Season". I know it's easy for it to escape us sometimes as we caught up with every day life. Here’s just a quick 7 ways to inspire the "Reason for the Season" in yourself and others & spread Love & Christmas Cheer! 1. Christmas is NOT ABOUT GIFTS. 2. Be kind to others for no reason because "Kindness is Free". 3. Hold the door for someone in NEED. 4. Say Hello or a friendly Hi to someone just because. 5. Pay it Forward any chance you get. 6. Spend time with loved ones we still have here because life is fleeting. 7. BE LOVE, SHOW LOVE, & SPREAD LOVE , because you never know what someone else is dealing with this Holiday. Happy Holidays Everyone & Wishing You & Your Loved Ones a Truly Wonderful Christmas Season!

Here is my latest blog Holiday Sanity Savers. Happy Holidays!

Whilst Christmas can be a time of joy for many, it can also be challenging - mentally, emotionally, physically, and financially. If you’re not feeling festive this year, that’s okay. Remember, help and support are available ❤️ Our latest blog offers heartfelt advice to help you navigate the festive season. Discover tips and insights to make your holidays joyful and stress-free. https://lnkd.in/e6pmv8fg

Let's Talk Holiday Priorities… Ah, the elf debate: tradition or turmoil? Whether you're team Elf on the Shelf or team Nope, Not Today, the holiday season is a time to reflect on what truly matters. Years ago, Norman Pizza Owen (our family’s elf) brought laughter, guilt, and yes, even a little holiday chaos. From Pinterest-perfect setups to the heartbreak of a forgotten move, Norman taught me an important lesson: Holidays should be about joy, not stress. This year, we’re keeping it simple with unique traditions that actually work for our family—like turkey burgers for Thanksgiving and focusing on experiences instead of gifts. Because in the end, it’s about creating memories that matter to you. ✨ Ready for more joy and less stress this holiday season? Check out my blog for the full story (including Norman’s “craniotomy”) and some hilarious tips to survive the elf drama. 👉 https://lnkd.in/gFB4pwW2 Let’s embrace imperfection and focus on presence over perfection this holiday season. You’ve got this! 💖

How To Avoid Being A Boring Guest At Holiday Dinners If you are an older adult, retired, and lacking a lot of outside interests, you can easily become focused on your ailments. Truthfully, others may not be as interested in them as you are. Here are just two little tips to avoid others getting annoyed or bored with hearing about what's wrong with your health. #1. Avoid what my grandmother used to call "The Organ Recital": Oh, my back, oh, my stomach, oh, my knees...Frankly, complaints do not make scintillating dinner discussions. Whatever may be going on with your aches and pains or latest diagnoses, holiday dinners may not be the best place to share this personal information. #2 Ask others questions about what is happening in their lives and listen without interrupting. Even if you don't "get" everything they're talking about, see if you can take in information without judgment and hear what the other person is saying. They'll think you're a wonderful conversationalist when you master the art of "Hmm, tell me more about that", "Ah, yes" and nodding while making eye contact with them. In brief, skip the Organ Recital and be a good listener. May your holidays be interesting!

For all of my contacts that are out of work, have the out of work banner on etc (my last day is 24th December) my thoughts are with you all, please stay safe. There is never a great time of year to be out of work, but it seems the Christmas period is probably the worse. When everyone else, your friends, other family members are happy, joyous and in the party spirit, it is really hard to be happy for them and very easy to feel envious of them. Please try not to take your situation out on them, it's not their fault - it's not your fault either; it's just the way the dice rolled for you and it could very easily be any of those around you. - Use the festive period to surround yourself with those that do love and care for you. - Use the festive period to take your mind off the endless job searching. - Use the festive period to get out and take in some fresh air, walk in the countryside or, if you're fortunate to live close to the sea (like me) enjoy the sea-air. - Use the festive period train, to brush up on some skills, to read some books, to follow some technical blogs or YouTube videos. Please DO NOT use the period to feel crap about yourself, to doubt your self-worth. *It really is NOT YOU*, the IT job market is rubbish at the moment, and worse still it's December, so will be less active too. After the last couple of months I really did not think I'd make a post like this, but there you go, I have! Have a SAFE Christmas everyone. See you on the next revolution of Planet Earth around the star we call 'The Sun'.

The holidays can get expensive, but you don't have to spend big to spread holiday cheer! Here are some simple, budget-friendly tips from FNBO to help you share the joy this season: