Blog

As previously stated, I do not believe in New Year’s Resolutions, in fact I recently heard that most resolutions are broken by January 19th. What I prefer is self- reflection. According to Calm self -reflection provides the following benefits:

· Helps gain perspective
· Increases self- awareness
· Helps you align with your core values
· Helps you respond to situations with more resilience and ease
· Promotes personal growth

So, as we reflect on 2024, here are Calm’s key questions to guide you through this exercise.

1. What brought me the most joy this year?
2. What were my proudest moments this year, and why?
3. Which experiences challenged me, and what did I learn from them?
4. Were there situations I wish I had handled differently? Why, and what could I learn from them?
5. Have I been true to my values and beliefs?
6. Did I step out of my comfort zone? If so, what did I discover about myself in the process?
7. Which personal qualities did I utilize most this year, and in what scenarios?
8. Were there goals I set but still need to achieve? What were the reasons, and how can I adjust my approach?
9. What am I grateful for?
10. How have I grown as a person?

Which do you prefer – New Year’s Resolutions or Self-Reflection. Wishing everyone a healthy and productive 2025!

Well, 2025 is here. Don’t know what happened to 2024 but the older you get the faster times goes by. Have you noticed that every day of the year seems to be some kind of “holiday” or “event”, like National Cheeseburger Day, or Nacho Day. I decided to do some research about events held in January. What I learned is that there are many, several in fact on the same day! Case in point, January 1st isn’t just New Year’s Day it is also….

· Mexican Independence Day
· National Bloody Mary Day
· International Public Domain Day (whatever that means)
· National Hangover Day
· National Chocolate Covered Cherry Day

Who knew?! The following day January 2nd is National Buffet Day as well as World Introvert Day When I mentioned this to a colleague her comment was funny having National Buffet Day right when many have New Year’s Resolutions…to eat better, go on a diet, etc. I’m also guessing that the last place any introvert wants to be is at a buffet, where a bunch of oftentimes strangers are in close proximity, handling the same serving utensils?!

Perhaps this abundance of celebratory days is to remind us to celebrate everyday and not wait for big or special events to do something special or fun. Do you have a day that is special to you that you celebrate each year?

Baby it’s cold outside. Winter is upon us, days are short and it can get quite cold here in Northern New Jersey. Here are some tips on helping to get and keep warm this winter season.

· Layer up: wear lots of thin layers instead of one heavy piece. It helps trap your own body heat more effectively. Opt for moisture wicking fabrics like wool and fleece.
· Move around: get your blood circulation going it will help to keep your warm.
· Use a hot water bottle: an inexpensive way to bring in some heat and comfort.
· Eat more: yes, you heard me eat more. Not only eat more but eat more high fat foods like chocolate, nuts and cheese.
· Drink frequently: winter can be very drying so it is important to stay hydrated. Avoid alcohol and opt for warm hot drinks, soups.
· Do what your pets, animals do: look for a sunny spot and stop, bask in the sunlight. It will give you that warm feeling, boost your mood and provide you with necessary Vitamin D.

If you need help or are behind in paying for your heating bills whether it be oil, gas, electric, even wood please reach out to us at 973-579-1180. We have a dedicated team of professionals here to help.

We officially are in the midst of holiday season. It is important to remember that while you may be enjoying the holidays with all of its merriment, there are many people, neighbors, ones you see around town who feel especially lonely during this time.

Oftentimes, we reflect as a year comes to a close and a new year is on the horizon. Use this time to perhaps volunteer or donate to a non-profit organization. Since I have joined Family Promise of Sussex County I have had the pleasure of meeting and working with individuals from all kinds of backgrounds but all with the common goal of helping those less fortunate than ourselves. More than once I’ve answered the front door to our agency to meet a former client, who is now in a better position and wanted to donate non-perishable foods or a new toy. Pay it forward, the gesture does not need to be grand to be impactful.

So, while the year is coming to an end, I will not be talking about New Year’s Resolutions since most are broken before February. Mine too, are always the same, eat better, move more, you get the idea. Instead, I ask you to reflect and be grateful for the many blessings we all sometimes take for granted and to maybe in the New Year do something different, selfless in bettering someone else you might not even know. Wishing you a healthy and Happy New Year!

I was researching events that occur in December and stumbled upon this fun fact that except for February 29th which happens every Leap Year, December 25th is the least common Birthday. I suppose that is a good thing so that you don’t have to share your birthday celebration with Christmas every year. Conversely the most popular Birthday is September 9th, followed by September19th, September 12th…you get the idea.

Of course, one’s natural inclination is to go back nine months and see why September is such a baby boom! Well, that time is right after the holidays, the stress of the season is over, company, relatives have gone home, there is still a sense of good cheer and well-being. Some felt that after Superstorm Sandy in 2012 there would be a surge in births in the tri-state area of NY, NJ and CT. Hospitals geared up for the influx which really didn’t occur.

What did occur was a psychology professor had the opportunity to track and monitor a group of pregnant women during this Superstorm. As reported in, The Washington Post, the study, Stress in Pregnancy, “published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, found that children who were exposed to Sandy, a superstorm, while in utero had substantially increased risks for depression, anxiety and attention deficit and disruptive behavior disorders. The symptoms of these disorders presented when the children were preschool-age.”

While we can’t predict when a natural disaster will occur it is interesting to note that this can not only impact the mother but the unborn baby as well. When the day you were born is even more significant than I ever imagined.

What day were you born? What have you noticed or noticed in your children which can be traced to when you/they were born?

The days are getting shorter, the weather outside is frightful, many of us experience the “winter blues”. Collins Dictionary defines the winter blues “as a feeling of depression or deep unhappiness associated with experiencing the cold and darkness of winter.” The blues generally start late Fall into early Winter and last until Spring.

So, what is one to do? Here are some tips to help guide us through this “hibernation period”.
· Practice good sleep habits; try to stick to a consistent sleep schedule
· Get natural sunlight in the morning for better sleep and mood. According to Everyday Health, “Natural sunlight plays a key role in regulating mood and sleep-wake cycles. In particular, getting sunlight first thing in the morning helps tell your body it’s morning and it’s time to be awake…”
· Incorporating exercise can also improve sleep and mood. “Exercise releases natural feel-good chemicals in your brain that can boost your sense of well-being and helps distract you from negative thoughts that may dampen your mood,” according to Mayo Clinic.
· Use light therapy, I tend to light more candles in the Fall and Winter, flameless candles too can give you that cozy feeling when it’s cold outside
· Consider baking. I bake more during this time, it makes the house smell nice and welcoming. The heat of the oven helps warm the house. Here’s an extra tip when you are done baking, turn off the oven and leave the oven door open. Might as well use that energy to help warm your house!
· Catch up on books you want to read or shows you want to binge.

What do you like to do to help cope with the colder months ahead?

This year Thanksgiving will be on November 28th. Our national holiday of gratitude and giving thanks is always held on the 4th Thursday in November. It is a time when we share a meal with friends and family, give back to the community by volunteering, or watching the parade, football, or my personal favorite, the National Dog Show. WorldStrides compiled a list of Thanksgiving fun facts including:

· Turkey wasn’t on the menu at the first Thanksgiving. Venison, duck, goose, oysters, lobster, eel, and fish were likely served, alongside pumpkins and cranberries.
· The average number of calories consumed on Thanksgiving is 4,500.
· Butterball answers more than 100,000 turkey-cooking questions via their Butterball Turkey Hotline each November and December.
· The tradition of football on Thanksgiving began in 1876 with a game between Yale and Princeton. The first NFL games were played on Thanksgiving in 1920.

Want some folklore, courtesy of The Old Farmer’s Almanac?

Thanksgiving Weather Folklore

· Turkeys perched on trees and refusing to descend indicate snow.
· If the first snow sticks to the trees, it foretells a bountiful harvest in the coming year.
· If sheep feed facing downhill, watch for a snowstorm.
· Thunder in November indicates a fertile year to come.
· If there be ice in November that will bear a duck, there will be nothing thereafter but sleet and muck.
· When the winter is early, it will not be late.

What are some of your Thanksgiving traditions? What do you do to give thanks?

Thrifting has recently gained in popularity with more young people catching on to the idea of sustainability. Reusing, repurposing for the greater good of the planet. You are either “a picker and a digger” or you are not. I was raised as a thrifter. I remember as a young child driving around the neighborhood with my mom during the town’s “Throw Out” week, when people placed their unwanted items on the curb for others to pick up and claim as their own. I called it “Throw Up” week as young kids do mixing up words.

About twice a year Family Promise of Sussex County partners with Nick’s Hope in bringing together a Pop Up Thrift Shop free for the community. This year it will be held on November 16th with the First Presbyterian Church of Newton acting as our gracious host.

Interested in thrifting? Here are some pro-tips:

· Don’t go with the idea that you are looking for something specific. Be open minded, use this as an opportunity to try, buy something that you normally would not.
· Some stores don’t have proper dressing rooms or none at all. Wear clothes that you could easily take a layer off or be able to add a layer to try something on.
· Pay attention to labels, fabrics, prints, where it was made – these are all clues for quality.
· Try to find a thrift shop in or near a wealthy community, more apt to find higher quality items at a discounted price.

Just go out there and try, you never know what you will find and the thrill of the hunt especially when your score is amazing. Let us know what has been your greatest second-hand thrift find.

World Kindness Day is held on November 13th each year. It is an international observance introduced by the World Kindness Movement in 1998. The mission of the World Kindness Movement (WKM) is to inspire individuals and connect nations to create a kinder world. People often say it is harder, takes more effort to be mean than to be nice or kind. Here are some simple tips to show kindness to others.

· Buy someone else’s coffee in line
· Pick up the phone and call a friend or family member who you have not spoken to in a while
· Smile or say Hello to someone random you come across
· Offer to help a friend or neighbor with grocery shopping, yard work, baby sitting
· Be Respectful, say please, thank you, let others go before you in line
· Volunteer your time or donate to a local charity or non-profit
· Make and send a care package to someone who needs it

The mission for this year’s World Kindness Day is to highlight the importance of empathy, understanding, and cooperation to create a more harmonious and caring world. Even small acts of kindness have big impact. What do you do to spread kindness?