Apple Support

by sssmahh303, posted in Taking Care of Business

Mary Ann

Don’t we all need a White Knight who will slay our dragons or defeats a horrific troll who is under our many bridges.  My White Knight is the Apple Support Team.  I am an Apple fan.  I can’t say enough good things about their products. I have an iPhone, an iPad, and a MacBook Pro and love the fact that all their products can be synched. 

However, what I love the most about Apple is their support team.  In fact, I just used it today as I was writing blogs.  My curser froze, and I tried everything I could to undo whatever I did to cause the freeze.  I then called Apple Support.  The heavens opened and rays of light showered over me, and I was speaking to Kristen.  I explained my dilemma, and she asked me a few clarifying questions.  Then she began to guide me through the various steps to solve the problem.  Within 5 minutes, the problem was solved, and I was singing her praises and that of the whole team. They never disappoint. 

When you call, you never wait more than a few minutes, and you have a choice of music including silence to occupy you as you move quickly through the que.  Upon answering, a friendly associate, male or female, greets you, and we discuss the problem.  Regardless of the Apple device, they can help you.  They verify you are you with a code texted to your phone.  When that is done, they will come on whatever screen with a curser and begin to instruct you in correcting the problem.  This is all securely done with your approval on each step.  If you must use passwords or any other personal information, they leave the website until you are done with it.  They return afterwards to continue to next steps.  Usually, my problems only take a few minutes, but the associate will stay with you until you are satisfied.  One time I had trouble with a Microsoft renewal.  The associate stayed with me for a half hour until we got me up and running again.  That is customer service at its best. 

As a former administrator in schools, I know good teaching when I see it.  Whoever is training these associates is doing an excellent job.  It is hard to teach, but coaching people how to do things that do not come naturally is indeed special.  The Apple Associates are well-trained individuals and are remarkable teachers. They are friendly and very helpful.  

I always tell the associate how good they are.  I always remark on the Apple survey sent after the session how special this help service is and how well-done it is.  Apple Support has saved me several times.  They are my White Knights.  If you have Apple products and don’t know about this service, it is time for you to use it when you are in trouble with computer woes. (800-275-2273) If you don’t have Apple products, it might be a good time to check them out.  I know the world is divided into Apple and PC people.  However, I happen to be a happy Apple person, maybe you should be one too???  We all need White Knights to save us.  

Hamnet

by sssmahh303, posted in Reviews

Mary Ann

It is that time of year when we hear Oscar Buzz, and this year is no exception.  Hollywood saves the best for last with films debuting at the end of the year and the beginning of the next. The holiday audiences boost sales, and the films get lots of exposure. Whispers of excellence, however, began to stir in November about a movie with a rather odd name, Hamnet.  Did they misspell Hamlet?  Kind of….

As I began to read more about it, I discovered that the movie is adapted from a novel by Maggie O’Farrell, so I hurried to read it before the movie premiered. Hamnet the book is about the early life of William Shakespeare and his love story with Agnes Hathaway.  The story doesn’t tell you that it is Shakespeare, but you know, and Agnes is not a new character because you know her as Anne.  The tale is based on facts, but as with all historical fiction, the imagination weaves the possible dialogue and circumstances.  The book is a fast read, and you intimately experiences all the emotions (lots of ups and downs) the characters experience as they live life.  I think Shakespeare would approve how the story unfolds.

The hardest part of writing reviews is that you don’t want to tell too much of the story to ruin it for the reader and not telling enough to dull interest to read or to see the movie or whatever.  So, I was ready when the advertisements began for Hamnet.  The trailers tease and then you want, you must see the movie!

Hamnet the movie, is just, in a word, beautiful.  The sets, the scenery, the engaging and attractive actors, the charming children, and on and on.  It all sets the stage for a story of love and loss and eventually healing. The movie is true to the book.  Hamnet didn’t last very long in the theaters.  Most films don’t run long anymore unless it is a blockbuster with dinosaurs or a slice of the Marvel Universe.  Eventually, Hamnet will come to one of the streaming services, or it may have a relaunch should it get an Academy Awards nomination. Regardless, both the book and the movie are worth your time.  It is literature and film at its best.  Enjoy! 

2026 Favorite Things

by sssmahh303, posted in Lifestyle

Mary Ann and Cynthia

It is that time of year for remembering the past year and looking ahead to the new one.  Last year we did a blog on our 2025 favorite things, and we thought we would do it again for 2026.  Maybe it will give you some ideas for 2026.  There are a lot of 20,20,20s in that paragraph.

Nest Candles – You may have discovered this line of candles and their delicious smells.  I am totally in love with the Birchwood Pine Reed Diffuser.  I discovered it for Christmas 2024.  It makes the whole house smell like Christmas.   It is perfect for the entire winter season.  The candles and the diffuser are a bit pricey.  However, the products last a long time, and if you watch the website (Nest.com), the Nest company have great sales.  After last Christmas, I bought the one I am using this year at a good discount.  I am going to do it again this year.  The diffuser is well-packed, and if you put it in a dark place, it will be ready when you are ready to use it.  They also ran a Black Friday special this year with good prices.  

 

Krebs Christmas Ornaments – I have had these Christmas balls on my tree for years.  They are beautifully made in gorgeous colors, unique colors that can transform a tree. They can be found on their website, christmasbykrebs.com, and of course, Amazon carries them. It is a high quality product at a reasonable price that you can enjoy for years.

American Spoon – I shared this company last year and their wonderful Holiday Jam.  This year, I tried their Bourbon Butterscotch sauce and Candied Pecans.  Use both for a delicious topping for ice cream or pound cakes. American Spoon’s products are just yummy!  I don’t think you can go wrong. The website is different from the name – spoon.com 

Version 1.0.0

Yo Mama Marinara Sauce – I discovered this pasta sauce this year when I was looking for a healthy marinara sauce with few ingredients and no additives.  I tried a jar, and now Yo Mama is part of my pantry.  Spaghetti never tasted so good.  In preparing this blurb, I found that the company has a whole range of products – alfredo sauce, BBQ sauce, pizza sauce, and a variety of favors for their marinara.  I look forward to trying them all.  It is always fun to find tasty, simple products.

Version 1.0.0

Egg Omelet Dish – I saw this little pottery item in the Uncommon Goods Catalog.  It claimed to cook a mini egg omelet in 45 seconds.  What a quick way to have protein in the morning, and it fits perfectly in a bagel or English muffin.  Spray vegetable oil in the little dish, whip up an egg and add cheese, bacon bits, peppers, onions, or any other veggie.  Pour the mixture into the dish and put in the microwave for 45 seconds.  Viola, you have a perfect egg to eat alone or in a sandwich. The Omelet Dishes are made by Holman Pottery.  You can purchase them from their website, holmanpottery.com, at Uncommongoods.com, and Amazon carries the dishes as well.  They are around $25.  

Having sensitive skin I shy away from most scented products. But there are a few I can use without fear of developing rashes.  One such product is from Natural Grocers – Lavendar Epsom Salts. I use it once or twice a week while soaking in the bathtub. I keep a canister with a small scoop by the bathtub, so the salts are read to use when the mood strikes. I simply put a few scoops under the warm running water and let them dissolve as the tub fills. Then I step into luxury for a 20-minute soak. Relaxing!

doTerra is an essential oil company that certifies its oils are pure. doTerra means “gift of the earth” in Latin. The company provides work for people across the globe, helping small businesses thrive while growing herbs worldwide. The products are expensive, but well worth the money. I diffuse essential oils in my office and bedroom every day. Two products I use extensively are the Deep Blue Rub to relieve muscle discomfort and the Breathe Respiratory Drops when my throat is scratchy or I feel an allergy or cold coming on. The scents are pleasant and I know I’m getting quality products when I buy from doTerra.

Using stickers activates my inner child.  My planner is replete with stickers marking appointments, reminders, and elevating my calendar.  I especially appreciate Bloom Stickers. They are fun, colorful, and meaningful. Bloom Stickers come in a variety of themed packages. Often, they accompany Bloom Planners. I have used the Bloom financial tracking planner and stickers in addition to the yearly planners.  You can find Bloom products at https://bloomplanners.com/ .

Another favorite is Thoughtfully ( https://www.thoughtfully.com/ ). This company has curated gift sets that are reasonably priced. My favorites, of course, are the Thoughtfully Gourmet. These sets comprise miniature samples of multiple products such as olive oil, salts, and teas. I like these because it gives me a chance to try different flavors without ending up with large quantities of things I may not use again. Another fun use of these mini sets is to use them for advent calendar boxes.  The small footprint of the items makes inclusion in the advent box perfect. And, you can use them for favors. This year I made nutcracker shaped breadsticks which I packaged with a small bottle of olive oil to use as a dipping oil. Fun and useful favor from an annual Christmas brunch.

One of my most favorite “things” is Amazon! https://www.amazon.com/ This is a company that has figured out what customers want and how to treat customers. Some people complain about the membership fee, but if you use the company a lot you will actually save quite a lot on shipping alone. The ability to order and receive most products within a few days is satisfying. The return process is easy and customer service personnel are empowered to make decisions about refunds. I am grateful that Jeff Bezos and his associates created a system of ordering, delivering, and returning that makes purchases so much easier.

There you have it, friends. Now you know a little more about Mary Ann and me – the things we enjoy and the products we use. What are some of your favorite things?

Sauerkraut and Pork

by sssmahh303, posted in Friends and Family

Mary Ann

Happy New Year!  It is that time of year when you reflect on the past year and make resolutions for the coming year.  In my family, we started the year off with a dinner of Sauerkraut and Pork for good luck, and I have had this dish for my entire life every January 1st.  This is pure Pennsylvania Dutch, and no matter where I lived the aroma of the kraut and pork fill the air to greet the new year.

The sauerkraut represented money, so you had to eat some to have a prosperous year.  I must say it was hard to swallow when I was little, but now I’ve grown accustomed to the sour taste and like it.  The pork is prepared because the pig only walks forward, never backwards.  I recently read that it is also because the pig roots forward where other animals dig backwards.  Good Jeopardy question with the rooting.   In the new year, you want to be moving forward, not stuck in the past year.  We always served mashed potatoes and applesauce with the meal.

When I lived in South Carolina, the natives could not imagine eating sauerkraut and pork.  They always made black-eyed peas and greens cooked in ham hocks on New Years.  Both were new foods to me when I first move there.  The black-eyed peas were pennies, and the greens represented cash.  It was for a prosperous year as well.  

One year, my Southern neighbor and I did a combo meal doing both the Pennsylvania way and Southern way together. All tasted good, and it was fun eating a North/South meal. We had double luck that year.

No matter where you live, there are always special foods and traditions that are unique to an area or a family.  Regardless of how you celebrate, it all kicks off the New Year with hope, good luck, and prosperity.  You can’t go wrong!   

An Alternate Look at Wellness Goals

by Cynthia, posted in Wellness

In a few short days old father time will fade out and the new year baby will take center stage. This is the time when we begin to regret the rich foods and extra drinks we have enjoyed during Chris-Thanks-O’Ween. We resolve to exercise more, eat healthier food, and cut back on all the goodies that are now evident on our bodies.  As the saying goes, “a moment on the lips; a lifetime on the hips.”

Overall I am a pretty healthy eater by choice. The semi-annual blood tests remind me I also need to be healthier by recommendation – of the doctor! I find that if I move during the day, avoiding the sedentary lifestyle that comes with colder, darker days, I do feel better.  I’m not alone. Many people are thinking about lifestyle goals with enthusiasm as the calendar reminds us of another rotation around the sun.

This year let’s look at wellness from a broader perspective. The term wellness has been around for quite some time and is often paired with the word health – as in Health and Wellness. Wellness refers to so much more than exercise and diet, although those two factors affect overall wellness much more than we give them credit.

Wellness is the active pursuit of lifestyle choices that leads to a state of good health, holistically. Rather than looking only at those things that cause illness, it considers the integration of mind, body, and spirit.

Early in this millennia, I developed a model for balanced living. Honestly, it was my interpretation of the Hindu philosophy of chakras, which at that time was relegated to the “woo woo”. Over the past twenty-five years, the system has been mainstreamed by several entities, embracing the reality of wholeness. In a nutshell, wellness (or life balance) can be achieved by awareness of physical, emotional, occupational, social, creative, intellectual, and spiritual aspects of your life.

Physical, obviously, has to do with nutrition, exercise, and even sleep patterns.

Emotional focuses on managing feelings, building resilience, feeling connected.

Occupational is finding satisfaction in work, volunteering, or tasks that give you a sense of self.

Social is fostering positive relationships, finding community, and eliminating unhealthy interactions.

Creative has to do with self-expression which can be manifested in a number of ways. Not just artistically or in singing, playing an instrument, or painting, but also in the way we dress, how we carry ourselves, our approach to celebrating, and so on.

Intellectual refers to mental stimulation and may include reading, writing, puzzles, etc.

Spiritual relates to identifying your purpose, your values, and finding meaning in your life.

Each of these facets in your life are components of wellness. Together, they comprise who you are; how you see yourself; and how others view you. Finding wellness, as a whole person, can bring happiness and improved health.

I wish for you, our dear readers, a healthy, happy, 2026 and wholistic wellness.

Merry Christmas … and Thank You

by Cynthia, posted in Taking Care of Business

To all our readers I want to thank you for the time you take perusing our musings each week. Mary Ann and I enjoy writing; and this blog has been a way for us to share with you our random thoughts and memories as we navigate our seventies as retired, single women.

With each passing year … dare I say day … I have come to the realization of how grateful I am for so many of life’s “little pleasures.”  As I pen this missive I look out over my front yard where a large and cheerful wooden Santa ushers a realistic reindeer through the red and white wrapped trees.

I am thankful for my health.  Sure, I have trouble getting out of bed some days as my back seizes and the vertebrae “crunch” causing varying levels of pain. Still, in the total scheme of things I can move through my day and function normally, albeit more slowly than in days gone by.

I am thankful for reflection.  I have wonderful and melancholy memories of my parents and brother who have gone before me, yet I have to smile when I look at the Christmas trees that represent each of them. My daddy collected Santas, my mom had an affinity for cardinals, and my brother loved teddy bears. My home has three Christmas trees decorated with their ornaments – a consistent reminder throughout the holiday season of the love we shared.

I am thankful for family. My sister and aunts give me way too much attention – and I revel in the intent and the fun that holiday activities with them yield. This year I was blessed with a sister trip to visit a 96-year-old aunt and 99-year-old uncle and their daughter and her husband. My 83-year-old aunt hosted a Golden Girls birthday party for me in which we all dressed as our favorite character – my uncle dressing as Blanche! The list is much too long for a Christmas day blog. My daughter and her husband and my grandchildren include me in many activities throughout the year, while maneuvering their homes and jobs. I remember how stressful those days were, trying to balance family and work and school.

I am thankful for my friends. Technology has made it possible to “have tea” with Mary Ann, even though we live half-way across the country from one another. My local friends and I enjoy a coffee or lunch date or simply a quick phone call or txt to say, “I’m thinking of you.”

How wonderful it is to be thankful for the gifts life gives. It is important, too, to let others know that the things they do and the gifts they give are also appreciated. In our hustle and bustle we often forget the value of a hand-written note that demonstrates extra effort and sincerity, care and thoughtfulness. Notes create a lasting impression cherished over time, a tangible reminder that the things you do and provide are treasured.

At the same time a physical note provides psychological benefits for the sender, often allowing for a higher level of happiness and lower levels of depression.  The note shows you invested the time in thanking them – that the time you put in selecting, purchasing, and wrapping a gift is reciprocated.

On this day of remembrance and gifts, let us be reminded of the gift of grace. And remember to let your loved ones know you appreciate, value, and treasure their part in your life.

Merry Christmas and a Happy Thank You Note Writing Week. Cheers!

Remarkable Bright Creatures

by sssmahh303, posted in Reviews

Mary Ann

Is it Octopi or Octopuses?  I think it both.  However, you currently see many movies, documentaries, and books about the Octopus.  They are everywhere.  Octopuses are very interesting animals and have been documented by many ancient cultures.  They have fascinated humans for the ages.  

The recent bestselling book, Remarkable Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt captures the magic of this mesmerizes animal.  This debut fiction by Van Pelt tells the story of Tova Sullivan, a 70-year-old widow who works as a cleaning lady at the Sowell Bay Aquarium.  She is keeping herself busy after the recent loss of her husband.  She has always kept herself busy ever since the mysterious death of her son, Erik.

While she cleaned, she was watched by Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus. Marcellus is a wily mollusk, and every few chapters, he charms the reader with his perspective on the ever-unfolding story.  Late at night, Marcellus escapes his tank and gathers treasures left by tourists.  He then hides them in his grotto in his tank. Eventually, Marcellus and Tova become friends. She saves him one night!

The story progresses when a young man, Cameron, comes to live in the community.  There are lots of subplots to the story, but they all come together in the end when the dots are connected. You will have fun putting it all together, so I don’t want to give too many details. 

Remarkable Bright Creatures is a delightful book, and everyone I know who love a good story have thoroughly enjoyed this tale.  I highly recommend this book.  It will lift your spirits! I hope Shelby Van Pelt will share her talents again with future books.  Can’t wait!

Note:  A movie based on the book is being produced with Sally Fields as Tova – a role made for her. Her range of emotions will help us interpret the story so we can all feel Tova and Marcellus’s lives.  

Cheese Man of Aix-en-Provence

by sssmahh303, posted in Lifestyle

Mary Ann

While traveling in the South of France with friends, we decided to take a cooking class.  It was held at a winery, and it all seemed so romantic and adventuresome. First however, we were going to the Farmer’s market in Aix-en-Provence to get the food we needed to prepare for our dinner.  It was farm-to-table which is most of the meals in France. 

The market was full of stalls that held produce of fruits and vegetables, fish, poultry, red meat, breads and pastries, and of course, cheese.  It was a feast for the eye!  The cheese monger was an older gentleman whose white hair and beard looked like an unruly goat with hair sticking out everywhere.  He was beautiful.  Just the kind of picture you want to take to remember a day at the market.  So, I was sneaking around trying to get the perfect shot.  He, however, was on to me and kept ducking or turning his head.  I just was not going to get a picture of this” beautiful” man. No luck!

We met up with the chef who took us to the various stalls to buy the ingredients.  The chef explained how to choose the perfect ingredients for our dinner such as selecting a monk fish – boy, one ugly fish!  Then we moved to the cheese stall where the “goat” man reigned.  I was coming face-to-face with the man I was trying to photograph.  He looked me in the eye, and I looked him in the eye.  We totally recognized each other.   I was so embarrassed turning every shade of red, because he knew what I was trying to do.  I spoke to the chef asking him to apologize for me.  I was just plain rude to this man getting into his personal space regardless how enticing the picture would have been.  The chef told the cheese man how sorry I was.  As it turned out, the week before, he had been manhandled by a lady from Germany who took “selfies” of this poor man who just wanted to sell his cheese. The German woman shook him so when I came around with camera in hand, he thought I would do the same things.  The goat man and I smiled at each other, but I don’t think he really trusted me.  He went on to explain through the chef how the cheese was aged, and we tasted the difference – all very interesting!  I then slinged away. I never did get a picture of the cheese or the cheese monger. 

We continued shopping and then departed to the winery cooking the afternoon away in the creation of an excellent meal.  We sampled their delicious wines, and it truly was a memorable meal. As we departed, they sent us off with three bottles of wine and the recipes.  Yummy!

I did learn a valuable lesson that day about photographing native people.  Tourists are the paparazzi of the average man.  You must respect them.  They are not a building or vista that is there to photograph.  They are living, breathing people with feelings.  Since then, I have always asked if I could take a person’s picture.  I did always ask for permission to photograph children – too many weird adults out there who could use the pictures in a bad way.  For the most part, people like to be photographed and some of my most interesting shots from any trip are of the people who live there. 

This blog has been a lesson not to be the paparazzi of the native people of any country.  It makes tourists live up to the ugly American reputation or in this case, the ugly German!  Just ask and accept the answer they give you.  You will find most people are kind. Smiles are universal!   

Annalee Dolls

by sssmahh303, posted in Friends and Family

Mary Ann

When I was a young girl, my job at Christmas was to decorate the top of our piano.  We first put down some fake snow that was quilt batting.   Then, we would add Santa’s sleigh and various Christmas characters to the snowy scene.  The featured stars of the display were four elves that were Annalee Dolls.

Annalee Dolls started in 1934 by Annalee Thorndike in Meredith, NH.  It was a cottage industry growing out of the Depression. During the 1950s and 1960s, the felt dolls with the charming hand-painted faces began to take off around the country.  With each decade the company grew bigger and bigger adding little characters for all the holidays in a variety of sizes. They ran limited editions and collecting fever hit the nation. Each year new characters are introduced, and suddenly, you just must have the Mardi Gras elf!

My mother began collecting the Annalee Dolls in the early 1960s. She would get them from a lovely gift shop in our hometown called The Studio Shop.  She slowly grew her collection and decorated for each holiday with them. The catalogs would come, and she would place lots of orders 

 When I had my own family, I began to collect as well, but not nearly as many as my mother had.  I love the elves and have several of them for all the holidays.  However, I have a large collection of Christmas elves that are scattered all over the house.  They peek around every corner and will surprise guests at every turn.  I always seem to miss one or two when I put them away.  They surprise me!

When my mother passed, we had to find new homes for hundreds of Annalee Dolls.  I added several of hers to my collection. I gave relatives specific ones that I knew would have personal meaning to them.  In the end there were still about 200 plus dolls.  Then the hard part began – what do you do with them??  I tried to sell them to collectors who were also trying to find homes for their own collections. This went on for several months.  In the end we gave them to a Women’s Thrift shop that helped abused women.  They sold them at their auction and in the store.  I know this would have made my mother happy helping other women.  

Any of you that have collections from your own mothers such as Byers’ Carolers or Hummels or Jim Shore figures or Christmas Villages know what I mean about downsizing family collections.  No one in the family wants them anymore.  Once I am gone, I am not sure anyone in my family will want the precious Annalee Dolls.  I hope someone will want the original four elves from the top of the piano. 

 When I unwrap my dolls to display for a holiday, it makes me happy to visit with them again.  I know that my mother would be happy that they bring me joy.  Most importantly, “playing” with the Annalee Dolls is like I am visiting with my mother.  It brings a smile to my lips and a tear to my eye remembering her.  

Checklist for Healthy Holidays

by Cynthia, posted in Wellness

This time of year can be fun and exciting. As the holiday season rolls around, we can also feel the pressure of more spending, additional calendar entries, richer food – all leading to an unhealthy feeling. Let’s revisit some tips for “sleighing” the holidays, as the youngsters might say.

You could go to a wellness retreat, starting at $6,500 … or you could review the following suggestions:

  1. First things, first. Take care of yourself!

We can get quite caught up in the holiday spirit. We want to say “yes” to every invitation, activity, event, and seasonal only opportunities.  I get it. It’s the most wonderful time of the year. Still, as throughout the year, taking care of your physical needs is important. We push ourselves to meet the self-imposed (or other-imposed) deadlines, putting our own needs aside. At our age, it is acceptable to prioritize the need for rest.

I find my list has a lot of “carry overs” because I get tired before the end of the day. When I push myself to do “just one more task” I end up overexerting and feeling exhausted. Most of those tasks are not as important as they seemed at first. A little exercise is invigorating and helps reduce some of the stress your body is experiencing.

Good physical health leads to better mental health.  Make a plan. Set priorities. Participate in only those things you really want to do. You’ve earned the right to say “no”!

You don’t have to say “no” to all the rich and yummy food that appears this time of year. Again, make healthy choices. Eat a cookie and a piece of cake and enjoy every morsel. Just follow your preset quality and quantity goals to avoid overindulging.

  • Know the stressors.

Be aware of your limitations: Not only your physical but also financial. Set a budget and stick to it. If you are as I am, Christmas brings out the uber generosity.  I want to pay the repair people extra for their trouble. I want to buy the grandchildren everything they want. I want to treat friends to coffee, lunch, and cocktails. But I also have to remember that the income I have is the income I have. No more is coming in and I’m not looking forward to an annual raise. As my children and grandchildren get older, they actually want less. They, too, have budgets. Keeping the spending down helps them to feel less pressure.

  • Set boundaries.

The year has been somewhat contentious. Holiday gatherings are not the appropriate places to have political or other controversial conversations.  Even when it is someone else broaching an uncomfortable subject, you can arm yourself with “topic-changers.” Be prepared to tell a story about a funny childhood memory, or a new food you tried. Ask about their further holiday plans or a recipe they might have made as a contribution to the buffet. On occasion, someone may push the topic, even after you have attempted to steer away from it.  Be prepared to say some like “I would appreciate it if we didn’t discuss this right now” or “let’s find a lighter topic to discuss.”  Other people at the gathering will appreciate your ability to set the stage for pleasant interactions.

  • Do something meaningful.

Meaningful is different for each of us.  You may engage in a walk. Visit a neighbor. Call or Zoom a distant friend. Write holiday cards.  If you are lonely or missing a loved one who has passed, you might try an adult coloring book or journal your feelings.

Non-profits especially appreciate volunteers this time of year. Helping a registered organization reminds us that with all of our aches and pains and occasional sadness, we are still fairly well off and have a lot of blessings.

Sit back for a moment. Relax. Think of three things you for which you are grateful. Then put a smile on your face and take in a breath of cold December air. Enjoy the holiday season. Spring is just around the corner!