A Time Not to Forget: It is estimated that the number of homeless people in the UK is in the region of 350,000.
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Recent data (early 2025) from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) indicates in the UK alone around 27% of adults (over a quarter) feel lonely some, often, or always, translating to millions, while about 7% (millions) experience chronic loneliness (often or always), a figure that rose during the pandemic and remains elevated, affecting younger people (16-29) most significantly.
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At times like the Christmas period it should make you appreciate a roof over your head, a cosy fire to sit around and the love and the companionship we may have in abundance.
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We do not all enjoy a wonderful life but even if you do have one we can at times not appreciate what we have around us. Less still have an understanding of what others maybe going through.
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That’s why it is just as important to take time to say hello to others even those you may not know. Having a quick chat can mean so much more to those not able to enjoy the benefits many others may take for granted.
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A warm smile and acknowledgment may be all it takes for simple actions can be appreciated just as big gestures can be.
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Having lost my father at Christmas in the past made me look upon that particular festive period in a less than happy way. It took a while for me to push away the grief and unhappiness and celebrate Christmas Day with my family. For a couple of years I would watch my wife and children drive off to the in laws whilst I stayed at home feeling in a less than celebratory way.
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It was only with talking about it did I realise I could learn to appreciate what having those who love me around me was important. I guess I learned to appreciate life more.
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As I said, we don’t all have the same life as our experiences in our individual journeys span far and wide. We can however be more reflective during this period and appreciate that a warm smile or hello to others can enrich us all in so many ways.
A time not to forget.
If you know someone who is still grieving, don’t avoid them, instead actively approach them ask how they are. If they want to talk let them and if not let them know you are there when they are ready to talk.
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If you see a stranger in the street it doesn’t take much to simply smile or say hello.
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Gregory Quinn Brennan
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The next LifeBalance Day of Healing is Saturday the 3rd of January 2026 at Crosby Library. 10.30am-1.30pm. You can find more information on clicking the links below. If any have had a tough Christmas, feel burnt out or done in then come and see us. If you have done everything for everyone else, pop in and put yourself first.
If any of our readers or someone that we know are feeling lonely please come and have a cuppa with us, have a chat and some cake. Let us see what we can do to help, alleviate and change. Loneliness and grief are a miserable prison to be in. It does not have to be this way.
For anyone that has had strange or unexplainable experiences from what they have taken part in, read or seen and need help or to understand please get in touch. If you have questions then please come and speak with us. If you have questions please come and speak with us. We have added some links below which may be useful.
Our Healing Days are about getting the help we need be it mind, body or spirit. All treatment and refreshments are free of charge but we do accept donations if offered. These donations are used to cover the cost of room hire and provide a cuppa and piece of homemade cake to all who come through the doors. Readers can also follow us on our Instagram page or any of our socials.
