Annual Holiday Party Recap
At this years WNBA-NYC Holiday Party, I enjoyed chatting with members about the books we hope to read before New Years, our favorite holiday traditions, and upcoming travel plans. These are the kind of positive connections the holidays should be all about, and I hope that this event was as relaxing and enjoyable for you, as it was for me.
I usually love the holidays but these past few have been more difficult. As I’ve grown older, my family dynamics have changed. The political differences between family members have become an additional strain as we try and fail to come up with topics that won’t turn into tense debate. All this is to say — I find our annual Holiday Party to be much more fun. This year did not disappoint as members and friends came from near (just a few blocks away) and far (New jersey and Long Island) to catch up with one another, have a drink, enjoy appetizers, and (for a lucky few) win a book from our raffle!
Holiday Stress
Unfortunately, not every Holiday event can be as easy or anxiety free. If you’re feeling yourself struggle every now and then, know that you’re not alone. In fact, you’re in the majority. According to Psychology Today 56 percent of Americans reported increased stress in 2017 due to jobs, and 53 percent due to financial duress (further exacerbated by the holidays). We all love the sentiment of peace and love, but it is difficult to reconcile these sentiments with the current state of our world. Especially, with new crises being brought to our attention daily.
Despite all these concerns, I found that the nostalgia I feel for the holidays and the societal pressure to be cheerful made it challenging for me to admit that I don’t feel joyful and I don’t want to fake being ‘merry and bright.’ I don’t want to smile and laugh when I am feeling the disjuncture between what the Holiday represents and what I see happening in the world around me. Once I was able to admit that, I felt some relief. And I got better at at saying ‘no’ to events and social gatherings that I knew would be too mentally taxing or anxiety inducing. But sometimes that isn’t enough.
Bibliotherapy
I’ve learned to look for signs of anxiety — like being overwhelmed by matters that would typically seem small, wanting to sleep more than usual, and racing thoughts. I’ve also assembled a number of books that I find comforting for their ability to help me calm down and ease tension. For me, bibliotherapy is by no means a cure all, but I’ve found that it does come to my aid — especially at 2 in the morning! Some of my favorite books for getting me through the stress of the holidays and my many moods follow:
When I feel Melancholy I reach for, THE GREAT GATSBY but when I’m restless I turn to DARING GREATLY. If I am questioning life choices I read a little bit of EVERY TIME I FIND THE MEANING OF LIFE THEY CHANGE IT and if I am feeling stressed by relationship discord I lean on passages from PRIDE & PREJUDICE. And of course I’m constantly flipping through a book for finding books that will help me with whatever I’m feeling: A NOVEL CURE: FROM ABANDONMENT TO ZESTLESSNESS, 751 BOOKS TO CURE WHAT AILS YOU.
These are just a few books that help me reframe my thoughts, expand my sense of compassion, and provide me with a new sense of direction and confidence.
I wish you all Happy Reading and a wonderful New Year,
Laurel
Do you have certain books that you consistently read for comfort? Please share them with us!
If you, or someone you know, are struggling with depression or anxiety a list of local NYC counseling resources can be found at the National Organization for Women NYC.
Laurel Stokes is a Sales Operations Manager for HarperCollins. She lives in New York City and enjoys reading, cooking, and exploring the city on foot.
