christmas

Buddy Breathing

Among the maxims of basic training for scuba divers is “Never dive alone”. Wise divers go with a “buddy” to both share the fun and to be able to help each other in case of emergencies like equipment failure. Every diver typically carries a primary and a spare regulator (mouth-piece that delivers the oxygen from the tank), but in a pinch, divers can share a regulator off the same tank while making an emergency ascent to the surface. It’s up to each buddy to watch the other and to intervene if needed. If wide eyes and flailing arms aren’t enough notice, the sound of a dive knife beating on a metal tank will quickly bring a good buddy near with life-saving air and support.

Unlike well-trained divers, we are not so good at letting others see our need for help....

Keep breathing...

None of us are whole creatures, but some among us are truly walking wounded. Among other challenges, you may be facing the holidays with grief, depression or anxiety, disability or illness, major life changes, loneliness, unemployment, financial struggles, marital strife, or problems with children. For you, the usual holiday stressors like family visits, elaborate meals, gift exchanges, and even well-worn traditions or home-decorating can become emotional minefields, fraught with potential for overwhelming fear, sadness, or anger. Like the holidays themselves, some sources of stress are unavoidable, but you may have more room than you think to maneuver and face them while avoiding others entirely....

The holidays are here...breathe

I once worked in an office where someone regularly (at least once or twice a month, all year long!) emailed us with the days, hours, and minutes to go until Christmas. Now I loved this person (and Christmas), but I usually deleted those emails unread. I do not dread the holiday season, yet I do not live in unending anticipation of its coming.

Heedless of my feelings though, like a force of nature it comes...

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