Merry Christmas!

With a year full of fears, uncertainties, and disappointments it might be difficult to find any positives in this year. But as I create our annual photo album, (Kristine’s Christmas Gift) it is plain to see that the year has had its plus highlights, creating memories that will stay with us for a very long time.

As a family we have encountered loss, experienced grief, closed the doors to our business, home schooled, and at times have faced too many challenges and too many uncertainties, that projecting the positive and optimistic has been challenging. However, we have made a point of finding things to be thankful for. We have discovered walks, admired scenery, slowed down, spent quality time, and learnt to appreciate our surroundings. Having time for ourselves has meant more exercise and not taking our health for granted. We feel blessed with the friendships we have and have been overwhelmed with the support that you and our team have given. Sometimes it is so easy to get so caught up in negative media and the day-to-day activities of our lives that we forget to notice the amazing things.

Our 5 top tips to help you through this festive season:

1. Walk outside everyday and be sure to look up and out, not down and in. Carl Jung, the founder of analytical psychology, observed that his least happy patients were less interested in other people and the world around them.
   
2. Be selective over your TV viewing. Plan to sit down something as a family, make it an event, like the good old days. There is only so much ‘Escape to the Chateau Does Christmas’ one can watch!
3. Read a book. Take time out in a quiet space and be immersed in another world!
4. Be present. Yearning for what has gone or what is missing is pointless, as is living for the future. All we have is the here and now, so make the most of it, one day at a time.
5. Plan! Your time away from training over Lockdown or the festive break, may not have been your choice, but exercise is a cornerstone of a healthy lifestyle. Use this time to pause, take a breath and see the bigger picture.  Try and create a ‘blueprint’ for how you wish to spend the rest of your life.  Imaging yourself at 90, still physically active and mentally alert might mean your lifestyle choices may radically change!