Healthy
Shipshewana in December is a
beautiful place. It is a small town displaying peaceful grandeur with lights,
ice sculptures, and quaint store fronts.
December is generally known as one of
the most peaceful times of the year –
complete with the soft glow of holiday
lights, family gatherings, peace on
earth and goodwill towards men.
It’s a time of hope. However,
December can also be one of the most
discouraging times of the year. Days
get shorter, seasonal depression affects many, and the holidays can be a
reminder of mourning or loss. Yet even
in these circumstances, there is hope.
One definition of hope is “a wish
or desire accompanied by confident
expectation of fulfillment” (www.thefreedictionary.com). This definition has
an important aspect to it: action.
Hope is missing from many people’s
lives today. Sometimes it’s too painful
to hope for something after being disappointed, hurt, or betrayed. Circumstances beyond human control such
as sickness, natural disaster, or death
often incite fear in being hopeful.
Sometimes people lack others in their
lives who routinely offer words of hope
when needed. However it plays out,
Hearts
?Healthy
Homes
by Brenda Yoder, MA,
Counselor & Education Consultant for Elijah Haven Crisis Intervention Center
hope can be null or void from our lives.
The definition of “hope” cited
above goes beyond wishing or desiring
something will change – it comes with
confident expectation that change will
happen. It requires active participation
on our part. When we can’t change a
situation or person, it’s the things we
can change that bring real hope:
• An attitude
• Making something positive from a
difficult situation
• Hope in tomorrow being a new day
• Belief in the reality that past circumstances do not define the future.
A local principal recently commented that his school’s philosophy
was looking at “a glass half-full instead
of half-empty.” That’s a good outlook.
Every reality can have two different
perspectives, one with despair (halfempty) or filled with hope (half-full).
This holiday season, we may not
be able to change the shortened days,
hectic schedules, or loss of loved
ones around the holiday table, but
we can change how we look at these
realities…..we can confidently expect,
despite the circumstances, that our cup
will be half-full.
With that outlook, there is hope
for the season, for the New Year, for
the longings of our soul.
Hope-y New Year to all.
Willard Kauffman, Real Estate Fiduciary
2134 Elkhart Rd. • Goshen, IN 46526
Office 574.533.9581 • Cell 260.221.1940
Toll Free 800.589.7641
Email [email protected]
Each office independently owned & operated.
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Through December, when you mention this ad.
The Hometown Treasure · Dec. ‘11 · pg 7
260.768.8094 | 8435 W US 20, Shipshewana, IN 46565
The Hometown Treasure · Dec. ‘11 · pg 7