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The Holidays

November, 2010
In This Issue
From the Positive Perspective....The Holidays
Quote of the month:

"Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having
 more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough. "
Quote by: Oprah Winfrey
My Philosophy 

 My therapeutic philosophy is a combination of believing that discussions of the past can help you to understand where you have come from, which allows you to be able to define where you are today, which further aids in the creating of goals needed to help you reach your full potential. 
 
 I will treat you with compassion, understanding and respect, knowing that asking for help is not an easy thing to do.
 YOU ARE WORTH THE EFFORT!! 
 

Life is not always easy.  It doesn't come with a manual.  But it usually does come with an instinct to seek help when it is needed.

 

I welcome the opportunity to help you work through current issues and to look at your future with a sense of hope and purpose.

Greetings!

The holidays are upon us.  They can be a time of great joy or great sorrow. Some things we may not be able to change, like where we live or what health issues or financial issues we are currently facing but we can change our perspective of how it will affect the holidays. 

 

Maybe we aren't able to give lavish gifts to our loved ones this year due to a job loss or other financial situation, but we can use this as a chance to be creative with our giving.  Instead of feeling sad that you cannot give your child that electronic gadget they crave, create a  memory with your child by arranging to donate your time together as a family at a shelter or food pantry.  The gifts of time and experience can be so much more long-lasting for a child.

 

For many years our daughters would gather a box of their toys to bring to the local homeless shelter prior to Christmas.  They would be able to share those toys with the children in that shelter and spend some time with those children.  We achieved two goals:  we cleaned out the toy closet, yes, but more importantly, we allowed them to see that we all don't live the same type of life.  Not everyone has a home of their own. Not everyone can just get a snack in the kitchen when they like. And not everyone has a safe place to live. Hopefully we instilled in them some thankfulness for the life that we do have and appreciation for some of the joys in our life.

 

Enjoy the article below and have a safe and healthy holiday season


Sincerely,
Maryellen Dabal, MA, LMFTA

 420 N Carroll Avenue Suite 140
 Southlake, TX 76092
 817-876-9958
 
From The Positive Perspective.......
 
 

As we approach the holiday season let us pause and be thankful for what we do have that is wonderful in our life.  Be mindful of those around you and lend a hand or show of support to individuals who may be suffering this time of year. Giving someone the gift of your time can be one of the greatest gifts of all.

 

Those celebrating the holiday season for the first time in a new phase of life, such as marriage, or in your own apartment or home, or with a child for the first time, have an opportunity to create some new traditions.  Maybe you admired a tradition in someone else's home that you can now create in your own home.  It's an opportunity to personalize your family in a way that's important to you.

 

This can be a time to reflect on what is going well in your life.  With the challenges in our economy be thankful for having a job...even if it is not your ideal job.  Does it allow you to provide for your family and make them comfortable? 

 

Many people take health for granted.  Celebrate the fact that you and your loved ones are healthy.  If you are recovering from an illness, has there been progression in a positive direction?

 

Think about some milestones that may have been achieved this year.  Did you get a promotion?  Was a new life brought into this world? Did you adopt a pet? Did you pick up a new hobby that allows you to relieve some stress? Did you help someone else achieve a milestone in their life? These are all things we can recognize and be thankful for.

 

Since my husband, daughters and I do not live near family, we started a tradition of creating a letter to enclose with our Christmas card each year.  Having moved several times, we now have close friends all over this great country that we don't get to see very often. We update them on the birthdays we have all celebrated, new additions to our home pet population....which stands at 4 currently.  We remember those close to us who have passed on during the year with fond memories of that individual.  We announce transitions, such as our oldest daughter being accepted into college for next year.  I actually keep a Word Document on file that I add to as different things happen during the year.  Then when this time of year rolls around, I have bullet points to remind me of those milestones.  It's a way to stay connected with those we cherish and allows us to share some joyful memories of the past year.

 

Looking at life during this holiday season, may you be thankful for what you do have and may you feel the desire to give of your time, talent or treasure to those who do not have. 

 

It helps to look at it from the positive perspective......

 

Feedback
I welcome feedback regarding the newsletter or questions about my practice and can be reached at maryellen@dabalmft.com.  I cannot, however, give advice through email. For more information on my practice please visit my website: www.dabalmft.com
 
I wish you well...