Stress Relief Through... Giving Back?

My Thanksgiving kinda sucked.

Now, before you remind me that there are much worse off people than me, yes, I know. We ate delicious food and spent time with family.

But on Thanksgiving day, my Aunt, who unexpectedly went to the hospital the previous Friday and underwent several surgeries due to "feeling tired”, was determined to be brain dead. And we had to take her off life support. So, as she said goodbye to this world, we, the living, figured out how to cope.

Admittedly, due to experiencing death somewhat frequently from a young age, I am weird about it. But aren't we all a little weird about it? For me, I tend to experience the stress of the loss over time. And as Wednesday approached, almost a week after the event arrived, I became overwhelmingly sad as the stress finally culminated.

To combat those feelings, I left work and headed over to the Ronald McDonald House to help feed the families with sick kids, hoping to direct that grief into something positive. Seeing the joy on the kids' faces, serving parents who are so scared and so brave, and giving a little comfort to amazing people nursing those that are still living helped calm my nerves and put me in a much better place.

So, as the stress of the holidays crowds upon us, I am going to try to carve out some time, even if it’s just little moments, to make an impact on others. It will do us both good.

This blog was written on 05/12/2013 09:12:57 (UTC)