Holiday Wellness Discussion with Shelby Shah
Adapting Holiday Traditions for Wellness and Community During the Pandemic
As the holiday season approaches, many families are looking for ways to maintain tradition while prioritizing health, connection, and generosity. Shelby Shah, a local super hero and mom from the small town of Jackborough, is one such example.
Shelby and her family have always valued experiences over tangible gifts, often choosing to celebrate anniversaries and birthdays by going on adventures together. However, this year they will be staying home and making phone calls or Facetimes to family members to stay safe.
One tradition that Shelby is excited to start this holiday season is giving the gift of growth. She plans to give Gardenuity gardens, edible gardens in a bag, to teachers in her community as a way to share the gift of health and wellness. Gardenuity offers garden kits that cater to various preferences, providing a way to give back to loved ones and the community.
The benefits of growing through gifting are numerous. In addition to endless hours of meditation and groundedness, gardening can provide a sense of fulfillment and connection to nature.
Shelby's house always smells delicious during the holidays, thanks to her pioneer woman orange-vanilla monkey bread recipe. This year, she will be adding a touch of green with her Gardenuity garden.
The "How Do You Holiday" Panel Discussion featured female CEOs, Founders, and successful business leaders sharing their holiday traditions. One key strategy they emphasized was simplifying gift-giving and focusing on meaningful connections. Opting for homemade gifts, thoughtful gestures, or sharing favorite recipes can reduce financial and social pressures while fostering meaningful bonds.
In addition to giving gifts, Shelby also values the gift of experiences. She has given her family cooking classes, concerts, and vacations in the past. This year, she is planning a virtual cooking class for her family to enjoy together.
Shelby also has a daily wellness practice that includes waking up every morning, having a smoothie, vitamins, and a cup of coffee. She credits this routine with helping her stay sane during the holiday season.
Despite the challenges of the pandemic, Shelby is optimistic about the holiday season. She believes that by adapting celebrations to prioritize health, meaningful connection, and generosity, people can maintain holiday joy, nurture wellness, and foster community support in a safe, mindful way.
[1] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020, October 20). How to celebrate virtually. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/holidays/celebrating-virtually.html
[2] American Psychological Association. (2020, October 27). Managing stress during the holiday season. Retrieved from https://www.apa.org/topics/holiday-stress
[3] National Institute of Mental Health. (n.d.). Coping with stress during the holidays. Retrieved from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/stress/coping-with-stress-during-the-holidays.shtml
[4] American Heart Association. (2020, October 26). Holiday stress and heart health. Retrieved from https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/holiday-stress-and-heart-health
[5] National Alliance on Mental Illness. (n.d.). Holiday stress. Retrieved from https://www.nami.org/About-NAMI/NAMI-News-and-Updates/News/2019/December/Holiday-Stress
- Shelby has decided to donate Gardenuity gardens, a fashion-and-beauty of home-and-garden products, to teachers in her community as a means of sharing wellness and fostering a connection with nature.
- The "How Do You Holiday" Panel Discussion suggested simplifying gift-giving and focusing on meaningful connections, with homemade gifts, thoughtful gestures, or sharing favorite food-and-drink recipes as potential options to reduce financial and social pressures while fostering meaningful bonds.
- Recognizing the importance of connection and community during the pandemic, Shelby's family has opted to stay home and make phone calls or Facetimes to family members instead of traveling for vacations, and she is planning a virtual cooking class for her family to enjoy together.
- In addition to her daily wellness practice, which includes a morning smoothie, vitamins, and coffee, Shelby has incorporated a Gardenuity garden into her home-and-garden setup to bring a touch of green into her house year-round.
