One of the hardest things in life is going through the holidays alone. Just the anticipation of having to go through it can be agony for many people.
Depression and suicide rates are at an all time high during this time of year. And of course, loneliness is one of the worst states for one’s health, according to research that has demonstrated an association between a person’s level of social support and their risk of physical disease, mental illness, and mortality.
A team of researchers out of the University of Chicago, the University of California-San Diego, and Harvard found that loneliness was associated with health problems such as diminished immunity, cardiovascular risk, the progression of Alzheimer’s, obesity, alcoholism, and depression (2009 study, in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology).
So, we’re countering loneliness in our communities this holiday season and asking you to join us.
The MSM Holiday Loneliness Challenge:
For those of you that are NOT alone:
Help those that are alone. Pick at least one person that you can support in some way this holiday season. Invite them to a social gathering, bring them a nice meal, Tim’s coffee or tea, or some baked goodies, call them, or simply visit with them for a bit. Don’t feel sorry for, look down on, or make them feel like a charity case. That’s insulting. Get creative and just help at least one person to feel less alone, and more cared about and supported in some way.
For those of you that ARE feeling lonely:
We challenge you to do something different to counter that isolated state you think you might find yourself in over the holidays this year. Is there a food bank you can volunteer with? Can you knit or sew something for a child less fortunate? Maybe help a shelter or church? Or do you know a single mom that could use a hand with her child for a few hours, or that you could treat to a holiday dinner or toys for Christmas? How about helping someone else that you know that will be alone during the holidays?
If you’re worried about going out because of Covid, can you help a non-profit or charity from home, maybe with some paperwork, or sending out email notifications for them?
The opportunities are endless regarding the things you can do to counter your isolation, including help spread the word about this challenge so more people can be helped.
We’re not done yet!
If you’re really up for this challenge (and we hope you are!), tell us about it. What were the ways that you helped someone, or challenged yourself to do something different over the holidays to support less isolation?
We’ll publish all of the feedback that we get about how you helped others or yourself to overcome loneliness in the upcoming New Year’s edition of the magazine. We’re doing so because in addition to our goal of a better holiday for as many people as possible, others reading your ideas in the next edition may be helped by trying them out as well. And the cycle of a happier, healthier, and more supported community continues.
Share the ways that you rose to the challenge this holiday season to: https://muskokaseniorsmagazine.ca/contact and tell us exactly how you did it.
