HAPPY HOLIDAYS—OR NOT!

For the past nine years, we have dedicated our December issue to our annual charity register, which lists many of the amazing local charitable organizations available for you if you are in need of services, or if you want an opportunity to give back. This year, however, we identified a very important issue that needed to be addressed—seasonal depression.

JASON FUGATE creative director jason@akersmediagroup.com

VOLKAN ULGEN art director volkan@akersmediagroup.com

JOSH CLARK senior designer josh@akersmediagroup.com

MICHAEL GAULIN production director michael@akersmediagroup.com

FRED LOPEZ chief photographer // fred@akersmediagroup.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

FRED HILTON, RICHARD T. BOSSHARDT M.D., JAIME ALONSO, DAVE RAMSEY AND ANGELA BALLARD, SHIV KHERA, KELLY GROUND DR. WILLIAM B. MILLER JR., SLOANE DAVIS, BRENT WILLIAMS

SALES // MARKETING

TIM MCRAE / vice president of sales tim@akersmediagroup.com

AMBER BARKWELL advertising executive amber@akersmediagroup.com

TATIANNA GELIGA advertising executive tatianna@akersmediagroup.com

The holidays are a time of merriment and cheer. But there also are negative feelings of obligation, pressure, loneliness, and stress that can be associated with the holidays. These feelings tend to trigger internal strife within people. This is especially common for individuals who have a predisposition to mental health issues. They have difficulty handling pressure or are introverted and don’t know how to balance alone time and family obligations.

I think back to a time after my divorce when, for me, the holidays were bittersweet. I loved to see the excitement and happiness the holidays brought to my children. But it also meant I was going to have to share my time with them with their father. There were many Christmas days that I spent by myself, alone, and wishing I had my family near me. After the presents were opened Christmas morning, the kids would play for a while and then rush to get ready to spend the rest of the day with their dad. I was left behind to recall the days when we were all together as one, and my children didn’t have to be separated from one of their parents during the holidays. It was extremely difficult, and knowing this was to occur each year left me not nearly as excited for the holidays as other people were. The quietness of the house after my kids left was a painful reminder of what I had lost.

Fortunately, all of us have adjusted well, and I have since remarried. I still share my children with their father on the holiday, but now I am blessed to have my husband, Doug, and our son, Conner, by my side to continue celebrating the rest of the day.

JACQUELYN SINGER advertising executive jacquelyn@akersmediagroup.com

CREE HOWARD sales executive assistant cree@akersmediagroup.com

SHAENA CHASTAIN / sales assistant shaena@akersmediagroup.com

ADMINISTRATION

DEB MATLOCK office manager deb@akersmediagroup.com

AUBREY AKERS advertising coordinator aubrey@akersmediagroup.com

DISTRIBUTION

SCOTT HEGG / distribution manager scott.hegg@akersmediagroup.com

DIGITAL SOCIAL MEDIA

GARRETT REARDON / digital specialist garrett@akersmediagroup.com

If you can relate to the loneliness and anxiety I once felt, then there’s no reason to miss out on the holiday cheer. We’re here to help. In this month’s issue, we offer you tips on how to stay balanced, calm, and thankful all season.

For those of you who look forward to our annual charity register, we have something for you as well. Visit our website this month at lakehealthyliving.com, click on the Healthy Giving tab, and we have provided our 2017 register.

We hope you enjoy this month’s issue and the holiday season. From myself and the staff here at Healthy Living, we wish you a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year!

34749 akersmediagroup.com