It's ok…YOU Matter!

Greetings!


As I sit here listening to Tamela Mann " This Place" and "Take Me to the King" on a Sunday afternoon, I paused from trying to regain some sense of normalcy after eye surgery and get back to work grading papers (y'all know I got a gazillion jobs) I'm pausing to write a quick update.

This won't be a spa review but a review of what's ultimately behind the Spa Blog in the first place. I'm not frivolous (although catch me on a good moment and I can be) but truth is, the blog is really to manage mental wellness and for me and the stress level I maintain, "spa-ing" works. ( Let's not forget health and wellness includes exercise, and diet too..)

But I'd be remiss if I didn't believe all is possible without FAITH and a belief that there is someone more important than me..GOD. I'm not advocating faith here - but this time of year we get busy spending, spending, spending and forget the meaning of Christmas and what it truly means.

Take the time out to remember why we celebrate the holiday. If you don't celebrate, then still be grateful that you can READ this message. It means you have some device and can view it. Never ever take for granted what you have even when it seems not enough.

There are many that are hurting this time of year, (and all year) and they need to know that they MATTER. We all need to know WE MATTER.

I've written about this before but depression is real this time of year.

It's normal to feel the blues from time to time and the holidays generally offer a time of year when there are some who may develop symptoms associated with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). SAD generally comes the same time of year and lasts for a period of time. Often it's the winter sapping your energy and making you moody.

No - everyone who is depressed doesn't have SAD. Even if you are feeling depressed around the holidays for whatever the reason - remember YOU matter.

I think I spent a fair amount of time depressed this year (for variety of reasons) and in the process learned something about myself. I tend to withdraw when I'm depressed. If this is you - try your best to maintain contact with people. The last thing you need to do is remove yourself from people when depressed - but that's typically the first thing many do.

I always knew I'm stronger than I think..but for some... if you get nothing from this message - let that be it. YOU ARE STRONGER THAN YOU THINK.

Something else I learned this year after feeling depressed, asking for help. I'm not good at this AT ALL. And I suspect someone else out there isn't either. Learn to take the hand that assists - and reach out if you need to.

I appreciate my family, besties, Sorority sisters and all my Social Media pals who checked up on me.

Check up on someone this season. Pay it Forward. Bless someone else and you will see it come back to you tenfold.

Mental health is a huge part of the reason I spa, but spiritual health is at the center of it all.

Don't forget that.

Happy Holidays!

Ciao!

Some Resources ...


http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/seasonal-affective-disorder/DS00195


National Suicide Hotline 1-800-273-TALK (8255)


http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/depression/index.shtml