What Stresses You During the Holidays?

For months the news has been filled with supply chain problems and recommendations to start your holiday shopping early. We are told there is a long list of problems plaguing the retail sector right now, including labor shortages, lack of inventory and eager consumers ready to spend, and this holiday shopping season is expected to be stressful and expensive. 

So here we are, in December, and many of us are a bit frantic.  But not all of us, at least not about whether we can find the perfect gifts for the holidays. 

There are many in our community who can’t afford gifts because they can’t afford food, medical care, transportation, and even housing. If you can’t afford your basic needs, holiday shopping is not even a concern. Staying housed, clothed and healthy are what stresses them, and not just during the holiday season, but all year long, often year after year. 

At this time of year, many organizations offer us opportunities to “Adopt a Family” and to provide gifts on the family’s wish list.  For families who have to make decisions about paying bills, keeping the heat on, or getting food on the table, these programs can offer families a way to keep their children’s lives a bit more normal.  Kids can go back to school after winter break and show off their new clothes, just like the other children. 

But the benefits are short-lived because after the holiday gift-giving season, these families are still faced with the overwhelming decisions of paying for food or paying for electricity, and this worry continues all year round. 

During the holidays many of us take time to reflect on what brings us joy - family and friends, laughter and love, health and stability. We would like you to consider another form of joy - helping others with passion. 

Passion should be the foundation for helping others. It is not how much you give, but how much love you put into giving. It is only natural that some of you will care about this cause and not so much about that cause, and that’s okay. It is not simply a matter of doing the right thing, but also a matter of choosing a cause that matters to you. 



Helping others may just be the secret to living a life that is not only happier but also healthier, wealthier, more productive, and meaningful.  The key is to find the approach that fits. When we do, the more we give, the more we stand to gain in purpose, meaning and happiness - things we all stress about finding in our lives, but seldom do.