Tips for Right Relationships will be simple and practical. Try them out! We welcome your feedback about using these tips and your suggestions for new tip ideas. ()
Susan Green, Prue Cuper, Stephen Edgerton – Healthy Congregation Committee
TIP: Roller Coaster Holidays
Winter and the holiday season approach, and, with them, a whole host of feelings. In some moments, winter may feel peaceful, quiet, comforting. In others, exciting and joyful, a time to celebrate.
For some of us, these days spark painful emotions like grief, loneliness, and stress, often feeling in sharp contrast to what we’re “supposed to” experience.
With this in mind, we offer the following suggestions for helping yourself and other ERUUFians feel connected and supported:
- Make no assumptions about how others are feeling. “How are you?” and active listening help others to feel understood.
- Keep in mind the underlying message that each holiday is meant to communicate.
- Lean into opportunities for connection here at ERUUF:
- Bring a dish to share at the Thanksgiving dinner
- Help our children make gifts at Nifty Gifty
- Mark the Solstice with Eno River CUUPS
- Attend Jazz Vespers service
- Bring a soup to share at the Christmas Eve soup supper
- Participate in or attend our annual Christmas Pageant or candlelight service
- Attend the Kwanza Karamu
- Finally, if a one-on-one talk would be helpful, reach out to our ministers.
Know that other ERUUFians are here for you as we all ride the roller coaster of emotions of through November and December. And we’ll all be here again in the calm on the other side.
"The unselfish effort to bring cheer to others will be the beginning of a happier life for ourselves." – Helen Keller
