Preparing for holiday gatherings can be quite stressful and overwhelming for many hosts and hostesses, as well as those spending this time alone. Before you become caught in the holiday grind, take a moment to tally all the reasons you have to be thankful. Sometimes, it is difficult to count our blessings when we are battling the budget, coping with the loss of a loved one, or just having a terrible day. Begin by being grateful for the small things, such as having access to thousands of books at your local library, or showing appreciation for the friendly server at your favorite restaurant. It can be as simple as saying, “Thank you for being here for me.” You can change a person’s bad day into a good day by giving them a few minutes of your time even if you don’t know them.
It all starts with you. Simple actions can make a huge impact on our society and produce a happy, positive community for generations. Need a little inspiration? Consider your word usage with “Thank you. I’m sorry. Tell Me More. How to Change the World with 3 Sacred Sayings” (153.6 Wil) by Rod Wilson, or let your heart melt with “Thank You, Son, for Finding Me: A Birthmother’s Story” (362.8298 Kan) by Beth Kane. Show appreciation for your family and friends with Alexandra Shytsman’s “Friendsgiving: Celebrate Your Family of Friends” (642.2 Shy). If you are not a vocally expressive person but still want to be part of this movement, consider reading Nancy Davis Kho’s book “The Thank-You Project: Cultivating Happiness One Letter of Gratitude at a Time” (158.1092 Kho). We have many reasons to be thankful and we should allow ourselves to stop and smell the roses throughout our life’s journey.
Longtime patron and library assistant, Bill Douglas, expressed that he is “thankful to have a wonderful public library with lots of resources and knowledgeable staff members eagerly awaiting to help our patrons with their literary wishes. I value compassionately assisting patrons. You never know what people are going through or what they’re struggling with. Helping patrons is very rewarding to me personally. I feel as though I might have just helped make their day a little brighter somehow. For that opportunity, I am very thankful.”
It is important to be thankful every day that we wake in good health and not to neglect self-care especially when we are focused on attending to the needs of others. Reward yourself with “Mindfulness for Beginners: Reclaiming the Present Moment — and Your Life” (158.1 Kab) by Jon Kabat-Zinn, or “The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down” (294.344 Hye) by Haemin Sunim. If you struggle with sticking to the plan and prefer the buddy system, consider “Radical Friendship: Seven Ways to Love Yourself and Find Your People in an Unjust World” (302 Joh) by Kate Johnson.
Visit CDPL to find these books and thousands of others. Take a moment during your visit to show your appreciation for our dedicated staff and our extensive community library by filling out a comment card this holiday season. Tell us what you love the most.
Stop by the Circulation or Reference Desk if you would like to learn how to use the OPAC station, or acquire a CDPL library card. For more information about holiday closures, please visit our website at www.cdpl.lib.in.us or call us at 765-362-2242. CDPL’s regular hours of operation are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday-Saturday and 1-5 p.m. Sunday.
Toni Ridgway-Woodall is a library assistant in the Reference and Local History department and the Mary Bishop Memorial Gallery Coordinator at the Crawfordsville District Public Library. Bill Douglas is a library assistant in the Reference and Local History department at CDPL.
