The song “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” was written in 1963 by Edward Pola and George Wyle and recorded by Andy Williams. Not only does the song begin about how wonderful this season is, but the second stanza adds: “It’s the hap-happiest season of all.”
Cathy Salser will co-lead a workshop.
Unfortunately for countless people across the country, the holidays have different connotations. One example is Reverend Aliah MaJon, Ph.D, who lost her only son to suicide in 1994 and then reinvented her own traditions around the holidays after his death.
Cathy Salser, a lifelong Palisadian and founder of A Window Between Worlds (AWBW), wrote in an email to Circling the News that some people experience emotional hardship during this time of year.
“During the holidays, there is so much focus on holiday cheer, it can be especially difficult for those who are struggling,” Salser said.
So she and MaJon have teamed up to co-host four Sunday workshops–“Elevating the Holiday Blues”–on December 8, 15, 22 and 29 from 1:30 to 4 p.m. The sessions will be held in the Palisades Village Community Room and are free, although a donation is suggested.
Topics to be explored this year are: How to give yourself permission to feel bad; How to give yourself permission to feel good; How to be inspired to create new holiday traditions; and What are the gifts that I wish to give myself?
Aliah MaJon reinvented the holidays after her son’s death.
“Cathy and I are looking forward to co-creating a very DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE of the holiday season this year by combining group coaching with her powerful Touchstone Journey process to facilitate long-lasting healing, deep emotional release and personal transformation,” MaJon said (visit:next50yearsproject.org).
Sasler’s nonprofit uses art to help transform trauma. Since 1991 AWBW’s work has been centered in the field of domestic violence, providing art interventions for women and their children.
One of the themes in healing is safety and AWBW provides an atmosphere of safety with its art programs (visit: awbw.org). The website states that, “The hands-on creation of art has been shown to reduce distress, increase self-reflection and self-awareness, alter behavior and thinking patterns, have positive physical effects and build resilience–all of which play a key role in life transformation. In addition, coming together in an understanding and supportive community provides the atmosphere needed for recovery from violent and traumatic experiences.”
To RSVP for upcoming workshops, visit: (http://evite.me/6TekeawKvS)
Love this so much. I can make a personal endorsment of Cathy’s work. She is wonderful.