Merry Christmas to all of the Care Community

Hello All,

I'm a little early with my greetings, but as next Friday is Christmas Eve, I may not be around as much as usual, depending on how things go, so for safety's sake I wanted to take the opportunity to post my Christmas message in plenty of time.

For those of you who celebrate the season, I hope we will all get through this rather strange time of threatening restrictions with a little happiness, and I hope that those who can't or don't celebrate, will allow us our couple of days of midwinter merriment and often the madness that Christmas turns out to be.

I had to wrack my brain though to come up with a Christmas message which takes account of the difficulties surrounding the festive season once again. 'Merry Christmas' alone doesn't entirely cut it, with so many worries swirling around us generally at present.

In the end I decided on something that's really not connected with Christmas at all. It's the few last lines from Max Ehrmann's prose poem, Desiderata, and somehow it just seems to fit the situation.

'Be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.

And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be. And whatever your labours and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy. ' Max Ehrmann, (1927)

For all of you, carers, cared-for, and for anyone who is a member of this community, please be happy and safe and may you have many blessings in the coming year of 2022.

Your Christmas card, pictured above, comes partially from a photo posted on HealthUnlocked by Jerry Hart, one time Administrator of several of the groups here.

[sassy59]

Good morning Callendersgal, I love the sentiment in your Christmas message and the card is beautiful. Max Ehrmann got it right, lovely words. Thank you for that. I hope everyone has as good a Christmas as possible whatever happens. Take care all. Xxxx💜💕😘🎅🏻🎄

[klr31]

Wishing you a peaceful Christmas. X

[Hidden in reply to klr31]

Thank Karen and you too! x

[Hidden]

Happy Christmas to you all as well!

Today what we are doing here is ordering in a Chinese for lunch as a reward for having seen through a 2 week pantry challenge to clear down the pantry and fridge here which we have learned lots of lessons from.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

And to you Catgirl1976! x

[Lynd]

I often think of all the carers on here and silently cheer us all on.Christmas can be bitter sweet and I will be popping in and out of here Christmas day if anybody fancies a chat.

In the words of the old song, have yourself a merry little Christmas. Remember to treat yourself. My idea of a treat these days is to make myself too many prawn cocktails.

Take care x

[Hidden in reply to Lynd]

Lovely Lynd, hope you enjoy lots of prawn cocktails over Christmas and the very best of the season to you both! x

[Hellebelle]

Hi Callendersgal, thank you so much for your heartwarming Christmas greeting. It is a very powerful message that we all have a right to be here. This is particularly relevant to those whom are cared for and might be feeling a burden. Noone asks to be ill and incapable of functioning as they would like. I wish all carers and all those whom are cared for a very happy time, however you are spending your Christmas.

Sending lots of love ❤

[Hidden in reply to Hellebelle]

Thank you Hellebelle and I agree that it's an unfortunate side effect of the pandemic that has made so many elders feel less than appreciated. x

[Hidden]

Hello lovely post and card brought a tear and as always your posts are very mindful me and mam have cancelled going to my sister's but we're glad as rather be at home and I wasn't happy at leaving pixie without his dinner with us he has shown very much psychic Ness lately and he will know when I'm having or would have been turkey without him mam and pixie are my life my world and we're happy just the 3 of us hope you have a lovely Christmas and peaceful new year these are strange times and we have to learn to live with it the virus is here to stay like other cold flu strains sending hugs to you and kaser from me and pixiebob 🤗😻🌟🌟xx

Last Xmas waiting patiently 😁

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Baby sends her best wishes to Prince Pixie!

[Hidden]

Yes Mandy, our pets deserve some consideration at Christmas too and Pixie will be so glad to have you around. Thank you for your hugs and returning them for you and of course for Pixie. Merry Christmas. x

[thara9643]

milo and my sister

milo

[Hidden]

Awww how cuddly and sweet!

[Goldenanny]

What lovely messages and cute pics from everyone 😃 Stay safe, look after each other and be happy 😃 🥳🎄🎉

[Hidden in reply to Goldenanny]

Echoing your message Goldenanny, and hoping you enjoy the Christmas season.

[FredaE]

happy Christmas everyone, david'sddaughter has had to cancel her visit because of travel restrictions so it will be plan b for us

decorated christmas tree in a barn

[Hidden in reply to FredaE]

Hi FredaE, What a shame, and alas I think lots of Christmas plans are going to go awry again this year. Sensibly you had your Plan B, so apart from a little disappointment you'll hopefully manage a small celebration together. Have as merry a one as you can FredaE. Lovely as it is when all goes according to plan, it is just another day and in a little over a week the hullaballoo will all have blown over once again. Hoping that David's daughter gets well quickly and that the rest of the family will remain well.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

That's why we decided the best course of action for this Christmas is to not bother with any plans to save ourselves the upset!

[FredaE in reply to Hidden]

good sense !!

[Hidden]

I've got a picture I never wanted to take. Yes, I have Covid - 19. So Christmas Day will be still in isolation.

Positive test for covid

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Oh dear Bifield34, Another Christmas plan in ashes. I fear that you will probably be in good company this year, thanks to the omicron variant of Covid19. Try to bear it with fortitude and I hope that you won't be feeling too unwell. It's the gift none of us want to have, but the likelihood is very high. Despite your misfortune, I hope you will find a way, and be well enough, to extract something from the holiday season and make it special for you. Get well soon.

[FredaE in reply to Hidden]

Oh how sad. I think we shall need all our resilience this year...Hope you don't feel too bad

[Isinatra in reply to Hidden]

Oh, Bifield. I hope it’s mild. Let us know how it goes?

[Byron2020]

Thank you very much Callendersgal and I hope you and your family also have a Merry Christmas and let us hope and pray 🙏 that we can all look forward to a better 2022 x

[Isinatra]

Merry Christmas and if you run in to Jerry, thank him for the beautiful picture.

[Hidden in reply to Isinatra]

I'll certainly do that Isinatra!

[Hidden]

Jerry and Zest were great friends to me when I was grieving over the unfair way I lost my job back in 2019.

I have accepted it now and it's now just another phase of my life that's finished and I forgave the people involved but in no way does it mean I will be friends with them.