Hey Everyone,
I don’t know about anyone else but dealing with depression really makes the holidays suck. It can be very isolating, whether you’re alone or surrounded by others (especially when the others are all happy).
And while I think the exchanging of gifts is a fine tradition and can be a nice way to connect with others or express your feelings for one another, I think there’s something missing from the whole thing. It requires you to give away some of your energy to others or to rely on others to try and make you feel good. Besides that the materialism of the whole process is very artificial, and can draw the collective focus of humanity away from the things that really matter.
So after giving away your presents to others (which can be be rewarding or fulfilling in its own way) or having others give something to you (which can also be a nice validation)...or maybe you don’t have anyone to exchange gifts with or money to buy presents....it doesn’t matter, there’s still a gift you can give yourself that doesn’t cost you anything, or require giving your energy to someone else or relying on someone else to make you feel good. Today you can spend your energy to give yourself something to fill yourself up. And if you suffer like me this could be the most important gift you give/receive all day.
Because for those that suffer none of the materialistic gifts that get exchanged between yourself and others really matter today. What matters are the people on this site - and all the others around the world with these afflictions. The ones who suffer, the ones who understand, the ones in pain who reach out, and the ones who help. This site is what Christmas is really all about. It’s what life is all about. Connecting with others and recognizing our own self worth and the value of life and of others on the most meaningful levels is what’s its all about. And all of us here share a common experience that connects us. We understand. We are all pilgrims on this journey together. No matter what our walk of life or beliefs or experiences, we are all just people on this earth like everyone else, trying to figure out this crazy thing called life. And we are complex and crazy creatures.
So after the gifts are exchanged between friends and family or strangers, or not at all, I ask that you all give yourself this gift today....And it’s a simple gift to make sure to fill yourself up, even just a little bit. People always say to be grateful for what you have. Forget about doing that today. Today I ask everyone to be grateful for who they are. Take a minute to take a step back today and look at yourself and say one thing that you are grateful for about yourself. It may be tough, but reach deep inside and pick out a quality or a characteristic you have or something that you’ve done yourself and be grateful for you, for who you are on the inside, as you are. Something you don’t want to change or improve. Something awesome. Even if you feel like you can’t find anything, it’s there if you just look hard enough. I promise. Then after you reach in and pull it out, take another step back and reflect it on it for a few seconds. Try to notice the difference between just telling yourself you’re grateful and really genuinely feeling it, if you can. Maybe you have to keep repeating it over and over. And it’s ok if you don’t feel it, keep practicing and in time it will come. Then after you’ve done that, take a few more seconds and give yourself credit for that awesome trait or characteristic or doing that thing, because guess what...no one is responsible for making you the awesome person you are but yourself. You generated that from nothing. No one brought that goodness into the world but you. It came from within you. It’s so incredible when you really stop to think about it. You may not realize or feel like it right now, it but you are the one who brings joy to this world - it lives inside of you and you are capable of pulling it out and sharing it with yourself and with others. That’s what makes you amazing. You are a miracle. Your life is a miracle. Bless you all.
Trust yourself! ❤️☀️☮️☯️🌸🌈🧘🏻♀️🕉🙏
A Life Of Stress.. 
Cutting yourself slack...
For anyone struggling
