Being alone is a challenge for many people. This challenge may loom especially large during the holidays if you are single or newly divorced, elderly and without family around you. Many times our elderly loved ones have lost friends and relatives and the Holidays unfortunately serve as a reminder. Holidays are a time to share love, and many people end up feeling depressed when they do not have people around with whom to share love. If you are in this situation, what can you do to make the holidays joyous rather than depressing?

The key phrase here is SHARE LOVE. Too often people think in terms of getting love rather than giving and sharing their love. They don't realize that it is the act of giving their love that is so very fulfilling at any age. There are Senior Centers that are part of a city's infrastructure. Here, many times there are opportunities to reach out by phone to cheer up and provide companionship to other elderly people. The feedback seems to be an overwhelming feeling of satisfaction where seniors forget their own troubles and daily pains!

Edna had been married for 55 years and this next Thanksgiving was to be her first without Frank. Edna was thankful her family would be around, but still it was going to be quite an emotional time for her. With the encouragement of the Senior Center, Edna made even more calls as Thanksgiving loomed closer. To her relief, reaching out with those extra gestures seemed to smooth away some pain.

Sharon decided that she was not going to be alone and lonely again this holiday season. She learned of a women's shelter in her area for women and their children who were hiding from physically abusive husbands. The shelter was badly in need of funds for food, which Sharon didn't have. What she did have was the time to help gather food. Each day, after her job as a secretary, Sharon went around to the markets in her area until she found some willing to donate Thanksgiving dinners for the mothers and their children. Then, on Thanksgiving Day, she spent her time at the shelter cooking, decorating, serving, and having Thanksgiving dinner with these brave women who had left their abusive husbands to save themselves and their children. It was the best Thanksgiving she'd ever had! By choosing to share her love with people who needed her, she felt filled with love.

Frank was in a similar situation to Sharon. At 77, he was single, had been an only child, and had no close relatives. His business had not given him much opportunity to make friends. Frank had spent many lonely holidays feeling isolated and depressed, and decided a few years ago to do something about it.

Frank loved animals. As a child, his dog had been his main connection with love. After some research, Frank learned that there was a wonderful animal shelter within a half-hour of his home - a shelter that loved and cared for animals and didn't euthanize them. Frank started to volunteer one day a week on the weekends - feeding, playing with puppies and kittens, helping to interview people who wanted to adopt a pet, and getting to know the other volunteers. He found that he really connected with the people who volunteered there. Many of them were loving people who were deeply devoted to caring for animals. As his friendships developed, he found he had a new sense of family centered around the shelter. Thanksgiving and Christmas were now sometimes spent with the other volunteers who did not have families, and sometimes with the families of some of the volunteers. Frank's life had become full and fulfilling. The last I heard, he was dating a younger woman (age 72!) who also volunteered at the animal shelter!

No matter what your life situation is, you can always share your love with others. Instead of feeling alone and lonely this holiday season, open your heart to giving. There are many people, young and old out there who would welcome your love.