Smart Solutions Rehab Group’s Post

For many of us, Christmas is a season that’s overstuffed with expectations. There are gifts to buy, meals to prepare, events to attend, and people to please. It can feel like an endless marathon, leaving little time to enjoy the moments that truly matter. Instead of filling every corner of our lives with obligations, what if we made space for joy, meaning, and connection? Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gEztjHx7

They’re fun, they’re festive, and they’re hot! Sparklers are a fun and easy way to celebrate on holidays like Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day. While these small fireworks are easy to light and fun to wave around, it’s important to use them safely. According to the CPSC, sparklers can burn as hot as 2000 degrees Fahrenheit and can easily cause burns when not handled correctly. So before you get out the sparklers this holiday, review our nine tips to help you stay safe while celebrating. https://bit.ly/4cg3U0r

When it comes to Christmas Eve, service timing can make all the difference. Instead of relying on tradition, consider the needs of your congregation and community. Earlier service times—or even services on December 23rd—are becoming more common as families gather and travel. A well-timed service could open the door for many who might not otherwise attend. Learn more about strategic timing and other tips in our latest blog, Three Simple & Easy Ways to Increase Christmas Eve Service Attendance. 👇👇👇

Sometimes spending time with family and family friends over the holiday period can be anything BUT a happy time. This can particularly be the case if you are a member of a Rainbow Community and the people around you are unsupportive of who you are and who you love. I'm writing a blog series in the lead up to Christmas about coping strategies. Coming up next is how to navigate holiday events when you're out to yourself, but not to anyone else. The final installment will focus on supporting your Rainbow child / young person through the festive season. Firstly, I look at how to prepare yourself for the safest and sanest holiday period possible. Check it out here: https://lnkd.in/eeb9Swkz

The Holiday Season is upon us. Let’s make this time of year less stressful and more enjoyable. (1) Create a calendar showing when each parent will have the children for certain holiday events. (2) Be willing to start new family traditions. (3) Remember the holiday season is a special time of year not just a specific day of the week. Celebrate over the course of the month. (4) Have open communication and be flexible as needed if and when reasonable.

The December 2024 issue featuring our new Open Source column is available to read now (https://lnkd.in/dvrcRkbd)! Let us know what you think. In the words of our Editor-in-Chief: "Wishing you and your families the best possible holiday season and a blessed, fruitful, and fulfilling 2025!"

Day #23 of Shawna's Holiday Countdown After Action Review at the North Pole! Even Santa and his elves know the importance of continuous improvement, learning from each Christmas season, and performing an After Action Review. 🎅 Assess Effectiveness: First, they review the sleigh's flight plan and delivery schedule. Did Santa hit every chimney on time? Did they achieve their objectives? Were there any challenges? 🎅 Identify Gaps: Next, they pinpoint where toy production or gift wrapping fell behind to avoid future delays in the workshop. Did they need more resources? A templated process to follow? 🎅 Document Successes: They celebrate the wins and document what went well, like this year's record-breaking process for mounting up the reindeer and improving their departure time. 🎅 Build Resilience: They also review the plan to make it agile and flexible, developing strategies for unexpected challenges, such as reindeer training mishaps, elf strikes, or weather-related sleigh detours. 🎅 Rebuild Trust: Santa works to ensure families know he's listening if things don't go as planned. After a last-minute gift mix-up, some kids felt forgotten. Through personalized letters and magical visits, he's restoring belief in the North Pole's commitment to holiday joy for all, working to rebuild the lost trust. As often as Santa has made deliveries on Christmas Eve, he knows there's always room for improvement to make the season even better next year! We could all learn a thing or two from Santa. #HolidayCountdown #CrisisCommunications #AAR #CrisisManagement

A little gratitude goes a long way. If you’re looking for ways to make it a daily habit, here are some helpful tips!

Three important things to consider this morning. 1) May the best present you give is you being present. Put the phones down, stay engaged with loved ones and make memories. 2) The gift you may get may not be the best or not fit right, but the person worked hard throughout the year to make the money to buy it and think of you. Consider that first and then determine if a return is warranted. 3) Approximately one billion people went to bed without dinner last night and those same One billion people are looking for a meal this morning. Be thankful for the feast you may enjoy today. There are others that can be added to this list but these are my critical three What ver you celebrate may it be full of joy, gratefulness, health and prosperity.

So, with that in mind, I’d like to make a list of things which I recommend for this Christmas season. The list is in no particular order and reflects my own predilections this time of year, for good or for ill. Some items might be more fitting than others, but you won’t really know until you try them. You are free to hold off until December 25th before cracking into them, or you can work them into your Advent celebrations (some of which are very appropriate to Adventtide and its themes). Regardless of your choice in terms of timing, everything here is definitely Christmas related. https://lnkd.in/gXsJGihE