Some Thoughts For Christmas...

By ALICE O’BRIEN Alice O’Brien Counselling, Newmarket

It began to look a lot like Christmas a few weeks ago. By now, you most likely have the turkey defrosting, Bounty is the only sweets left in the box of Heroes and you have heard Chris Rea driving home for Christmas a million times.

As I’ve shared my thoughts on mental health throughout the year, I decided to combine mental health and Christmas, so here is a few to finish the year with:

· If you are under the same roof as last year, if you are surrounded by the same people doing the same traditions, then you are one of the lucky ones. Life has been hard for

some this year, losing their homes, or grieving loved ones. So, look around you and enjoy the scene.

· If your children woke up in a warm bed this morning and went to school wearing their shiny Christmas jumpers, with fully belly’s and health- then you have won the lotto in life.

· Sometimes we can grieve experiences this time of yearmaybe your house full of teens no longer want to listen out for Santaits ok to miss the days that were. You can make new traditions, have new festive adventures but hold on to your memories also, they will bring you warmth.

· If you become over-whelmed by all the fun, all the visitors, all the noise, remember, the Island Wood never closes, it is there, ready for you to take time-out surrounded by the sounds of nature when you need it.

· Lastly, you deserve a peaceful Christmas no matter what has happened all year. So, if that means refusing some invites or avoiding some people- you have to look after your own mental health, especially over Christmas.

Of course, as this is the last issue of 2023, I would like to thank everyone who has read my ramblings and approached me to discuss them. I also want to thank all at the IRD, most of all, Tadhg, Caleb and Louise for looking after me so well.

So, have a Happy and Healthy Christmas- enjoy all the experiences, the laughter and the fun.

Embrace it all because every moment precious.