NJ Cops | Page 176

DON’T SING CONTINUED FROM PAGE 83 = officers = = socialize at bars or clubs. Remember, even though many = = = = = = = = = alcohol is a depressant. = = = = = = = = = = 2. Get to the gym – The challenge is getting yourself there when = = = = = = = you least feel like it. Resist any excuse not to go. Your heart rate will start to rise and so will your = mood. = It’s = a fact! Better = = yet, plan = a=workout with a friend = so = you’re less likely to feel alone. 3. Don’t look= at= Facebook –= Even people = = though = =you know = most = = only post their happiest moments on social media, it’s easy to lose = perspective and= get a serious = = =case of FOMO (fear of missing out). Facebook is like = highlight reels of everyone else’s life which, if your = will =make you= feel =worse. = = = = life is in transition, Reach out to close friends via phone or text message when you = with = = feel like connecting people. You’ll get more satisfaction hearing updates from people you actually like, rather than tons of people = =seen in years. = = = = = = = = = you haven’t = = = = = = = = = = 4. Reframe your thinking – If you feel isolated, it’s important to = = = = = = remember you’re still in charge of your life. Your life always has = = = = = = = = = = = = meaning as a law enforcement officer because you serve others, and = 90 NEW JERSEY COPS ■ = = DECEMBER 2015 = you matter. = = = The way to bring = more joy into your life is to give first. I have writ= = ten often about the reciprocal nature of the good deeds you do often comforting your spirit. Mother Teresa says, “If you love until it hurts, = there is no more hurt, only more love.” = = = = Finally, it’s time = = maybe = it’s OK to= try to =recognize = = =a challenging = and it’s OK to feel overwhelmed and sad. But the holiday season is = just that. It’s a season, = = a time =that = will pass which some of us dread = = = while others =cherish. = = = = = = = = officially = If you’re a victim of the holiday blues, you =can move=on = at the stroke of midnight Jan. 1. After all is said and done, the holiday = = = = = = = = = = = = season ends =with new = a new = = year, filled = with new = opportunities = = = and = = way= of = life for many. = = Be optimistic = = that 2016 will be a better year, = = a better= life,=love, = job, = health, = = and = that you = will reap = = the ben= bringing = = = = = = = = = = = efits of all the good you sow. = = = = = = = = = = I will pray for a year full of blessings for each and every one of you. God knows you deserve it. Happy holidays! d