Christmas > ?Christmas For One: Mental Health Over the Holidays"

?Christmas For One: Mental Health Over the Holidays"

My dear friend, poet Dessa Byrd Reed, often spends holidays alone as a widow.
However, she doesn't see this, as many people often do, as a depressing circumstance.
In a November 2000 POETIC VOICES interview, she said, "Because I am single and live alone, I eat out a lot. I love to talk to strangers. That's one of my favorite things.

I go out for breakfast and talk to people."Another talented writer, Leslie Lafayette, dealt with being a childless woman by choice in WHY DON'T YOU HAVE KIDS?: Living a Full Life Without Parenthood.
You can bet that because of her choice many people would pity her.
She writes the "Alone Again, Naturally" column for the outstanding magazine THE DESERT WOMAN.
Observers might conclude she's miserable on the holidays.Both Leslie and Dessa have full lives and radiate Christmas cheer, not just in December but all year round.
While we all need human contact, it's a mistake to conclude that people without the traditional family dinner are all on suicide watch.

Anyone who has negotiated where to have Christmas and which family members can come when, not to mention refereed in-law and spouse disputes, knows that the allure of having a table for one at Christmas is powerful.However, when people aren't alone by choice, Christmas can be lonely.
In Michigan, I interviewed a woman, the founder of a divorced and widowed support group, who chose to have Christmas dinner every year for lonely widows, widowers and divorced people, usually from her support group.
Her children understood that she needed to start this new tradition in her new life.Similarly, having children around, even with the relentless gimmes and commercialism, lends a special magic to Christmas, which is why playing Santa appeals to so many.The holidays can be joyous if you're alone, or they can be difficult.
As with so much, your feelings depend on your personality, your circumstances, your childhood, and in many cases on medical or psychological conditions.Some tips to remember if you're alone or without your support system:

Take advantage of counseling services in your community, including from your local church, synagogue, temple or other place of worship.
Take time out for spirituality.
You might attend services just to experience human contact and community.
People are generally nicer at Christmas.
Do all the things you wanted to do but couldn't in your former life.
Travel.
Even in this post-9/11 world, you can visit faraway places.
There are many tour groups for singles.
Attend art walks, holiday concerts, lectures, and movie screenings alone.
Or invite a friend you haven't talked to in a while.
Volunteer?it's a wonderful way to make friends, stay active, and feel fulfilled.
Go out to dinner alone!
While women in particular feel uncomfortable, project an air of confidence.
You are a strong, vital woman.
This doesn't mean that you should go bar-hopping or take risks alone at night.
But you have the right to ask for a table for one without feeling as though people are judging you.
(Most people are too preoccupied with their own lives to notice.)
Gather a circle of friends or people in the same situation?just make sure the evening doesn't turn into a pity party.
Don't overdrink, overeat or do drugs.
It's just not a good tradition.
Bake cookies if you're so inclined.
Cookies make wonderful Christmas presents and ways to reconnect with your friends.

You may be tempted to think of yourself as Ebenezer Scrooge.
Don't, and boil anyone in his own pudding who calls you "Scrooge."
You are honoring Christmas in your own heart and keeping it always.
Christmas for one, anyone?.

Copyright Kristin Johnson. Kristin Johnson is co-author of the ?highly recommended? Midwest Book Review pick, Christmas Cookies Are For Giving: Stories, Recipes and Tips for Making Heartwarming Gifts (ISBN: 0-9723473-9-9). A downloadablemedia kit is available at our Web site, www.christmascookiesareforgiving.com, or e-mail the publisher (info@tyrpublishing.com) to receive a printed media kit and sample copy of the book. More articles available at http://www.bakingchristmascookies.com.kristin@poemsforyou.com

The Joy of No?l and Beyond

The Christmas season is fast approaching. How do you beat the stresses that come with No School, shopping, Christmas parties and family gatherings? ?My Daily Walk: Discover the life of Jesus', by Flora Trebi-Ollennu, an exceptional, well-researched 384-page illustrated children's devotional is the perfect answer. Celebrate Jesus, the real reason for the season by sharing these fun, heartwarming and inspiring stories that fill the pages of "My Daily Walk: Discover the Life of Jesus" daily with your children and grandchildren through the holidays and beyond.As you ponder the truths of Jesus' birth, his life and teachings in your hearts and minds, you put the worship and joy back into Christmas, which helps you focus on what is really important. Children are sure to enjoy the sequence of events relating to Jesus' birth through to his ascension and will come back again and again for more.Amerley Treb Books is an Alberta-based publisher dedicated to producing quality children's fiction and...

The Joy of No?l and Beyond

Christmas > The Joy of No?l and Beyond

Choosing Your Wedding Colors

Wedding dress, flowers, church, reception, cake topper, decorations, music AND wedding colors. Although it sounds daunting, choosing wedding colors is really quite simple.When choosing your wedding colors think about the different colors that you like most. You may want to choose a main color and one or two accent colors for visual beauty. If you really don't have a favorite color, think about the season that you're getting married in. If you're planning a spring or summer wedding go with pastels and brighter colors.

For winter ceremonies try darker purples and burgundies. You can also use red and silver for a more Christmas themed wedding. For a fall wedding, oranges, yellows and even reds can give a warm harvest feel.One thing to remember when choosing your wedding colors is not to overdue black. Although it is perfectly acceptable and popular to incorporate black into the wedding, over using it can give the feel of a funeral rather than a union of two hearts.Once you have chosen...

Choosing Your Wedding Colors

Christmas > Choosing Your Wedding Colors

‘Western Retro’ a Fashion Trend this Christmas Season

(ContentDesk) October 29, 2005 -- This year, retailers are finding some new trends emerging for the Christmas season.
One of the most powerfully chic movements is not at all new; it is a throwback to a classic, leathered, western look, but with an edge.
This Western Retro trend is not only taking over peoples wardrobes, but their home d?cor as well.Everything from western hats to boots to jewelry will be hot this holiday season.
Western retro shirts, classic western boots, and fine dress shirts for men are in high demand.
For women, a variety of options are available, from hats to footwear.

Common materials include leather, wool, suede, and velvet, and many brands are taking advantage of this style with new lines of suitable apparel.
The western retro shirt, previously in demand primarily by performers and those true western enthusiasts, has been brought back to life from the late 1930's to 1950's, when the day of the "B" Westerns...

‘Western Retro’ a Fashion Trend this Christmas Season

Christmas > ‘Western Retro’ a Fashion Trend this Christmas Season

Rochester, NY, Woman Designs Educational Greeting Card for Quilters

Quilt Gift Card designer and writer Sue Carmichael says calmly, "I needed one and there wasn't anything like it on the market," when asked how she came up with the idea for her line of greeting cards made especially for quilters to include with a gift quilt.
Each of the six different card styles; wedding, baby, birthday, graduation, Christmas and a blank one has "The Anatomy of a Quilt"? printed on the inside cover which gives a synopsis of the quilt making process, defines some of the terms quilters use and gives the care instructions.
Each card can be personalized on the front with a piece of fabric from the gift quilt or with a picture of the quilt itself.
Sue explains, "My passion is quilting and I want the quilts I make to be used, not piled in a dark cupboard so the sun can't fade them.
I certainly don't need another quilt for myself, so I give them away as gifts.

I realized I wasn't telling the recipients how to care for the present...

Rochester, NY, Woman Designs Educational Greeting Card for Quilters

Christmas > Rochester, NY, Woman Designs Educational Greeting Card for Quilters

Choosing Your Wedding Colors

Choosing Your Wedding Colors

Christmas > Choosing Your Wedding Colors

?Christmas For One: Mental Health Over the Holidays" Christmas

Foyco, Inc. Announces New Web Site for Affiliate Marketing Campaign

Foyco, Inc., a Salt Lake City affiliate marketing company, introduces the release of its newest web site ? http://www.Printer-Ink-Shop.com . Foyco manages multiple affiliate web sites which drive thousands of visitors per month to popular merchant sites. Foyco, Inc. continues to build a business model that is based purely on results and grounded in the popular pay-for-performance concepts.Company sales continue to rise as market factors...

?Christmas For One: Mental Health Over the Holidays" Foyco, Inc. Announces New Web Site for Affiliate Marketing Campaign Christmas

Christmas > Foyco, Inc. Announces New Web Site for Affiliate Marketing Campaign

New Satirical Website: Shameless Publicity

(ContentDesk) August 26, 2005 -- Shameless Publicity http://www.shamelesspublicity.com is a new satirical website targeting Publicity Hounds in politics, entertainment, and the media.Regarding politics we lampoon people on both sides of the aisle. Party affiliation is of less interest to us than the urge to get in front of the camera.We provide satirical essays every week and also do shorter pieces covering the daily news.We think...

?Christmas For One: Mental Health Over the Holidays" New Satirical Website: Shameless Publicity party Christmas

Christmas > New Satirical Website: Shameless Publicity

Are You In It For The Long Haul?

Do you own a home business? Now I'm not talking about the twice yearly yard sale. I am talking about a legitimate home based business. It doesn't matter what type of business you are running affiliate marketing, ecommerce website, ebay auctions, etc.). The question remains the same: Are you in it for the long haul?What exactly is the "long haul" you may ask? I consider the long haul sticking with something long enough to truly determine if it is something that is going to work for you.I've got...

?Christmas For One: Mental Health Over the Holidays" Christmas tires Are You In It For The Long Haul?

Christmas > Are You In It For The Long Haul?

Kevin Cahoon, of Broadway’s 'The Wedding Singer', Releases New CD

New York, NY (ContentDesk) April 17, 2006 -- Kevin Cahoon And Ghetto Cowboy deliver explosive rock infused with glitter on their debut record, DOLL. The album features 8 original gritty rock songs written and performed by Cahoon backed by guitar, drums, bass and keys. The band is one of the most buzzed about new arrivals on New Yorks downtown music scene; the pop, power and glam theatricality of their live events are captured for the first time on CD with this new studio recording.The album...

?Christmas For One: Mental Health Over the Holidays"

Christmas > Kevin Cahoon, of Broadway’s 'The Wedding Singer', Releases New CD

Indonesian Furniture at Factory Prices

In 1999 Yani was struggling to support her family in a small furniture business in Indonesia when she met Stuart from the UK. Her company manufactured excellent furniture so what were the business problems and solutions? A small capital investment, a website www.klynfurniture.com with AmEx payment facilities and a marketing approach geared towards international personal customers, as well as business customers, offering superb teak furniture...

?Christmas For One: Mental Health Over the Holidays" Christmas Indonesian Furniture at Factory Prices patio furniture

Christmas > Indonesian Furniture at Factory Prices