Happy Holidays from Dankmeyer! Yes! The holidays are upon us once again and sadly, things are not as back to normal as we would like - but that does not have to stop us from sharing time through video or phone calls. I have decided to get some holiday cards out to family and friends this year. I have a love for painting, so I am going to paint some holiday ornaments for family and friends as gifts! Giving from the heart is the best gift I believe we can give! Gifts like baked cookies, or the cute snowmen and a coffee cup with a hot chocolate packet - just anything homemade with love.

Another favorite item to make at the holidays are birch yule logs! They are fun to decorate and with a handy glue gun, you create a beautiful centerpiece or a gift. Some come predrilled and you just add candles to it for that little something extra.

How do you spend your holidays? There are many ways to celebrate during these winter months. Do you have any special traditions? I would love to hear the special things you do. Winter months tend to keep many amputees inside due to the snow, ice and cold. Let us think of some great things you can do to pass your time. Reading has always been a favorite of mine cozied up with a soft warm blanket in a quiet place. I do not have a real fireplace but to get the ambience of it I have a great fireplace screen saver for my television, crackling sounds and all! It looks beautiful.

Puzzles were always an inexpensive winter hobby my mother loved to do. We would all sit around for hours trying to find that one piece that would bring the beautiful puzzle image to life.

Do you remember when carolers came to the doors of people and sang beautiful holiday songs? See, I grew through many decades and we shared so many traditions! It could be fun to set up a Zoom with people in your circle and all share holiday songs if we can’t be together in person. It really does help all of us to connect in some way because it is never good to feel lonely and disconnected. This pandemic has done that to all of us and we now have to reinvent tradtions to fit the safety norms that are presently in place. How about a holiday party via Zoom? We need to keep the holidays as lively as we can.

These are just a few ideas of how we can keep happiness during the holidays alive! With a bit of ingenuity we can celebrate together and just hope that the next holiday brings less mask wearing and more hugs! Have a safe holiday and reach out with all the holiday ideas you may have and traditions that are still part of your lives - or new traditions you are establishing. May your home be filled with laughter and joy and remember to reach out to those who live alone and try to do something to bring them joy during this holiday season. Happy Holidays, Happy Hanukkah and Happy Kwanzaa from all of us here at Dankmeyer to all of you!

These tips are informed suggestions. If you do not feel comfortable with them, please do not attempt them. Instead as always contact your medical professional or your prosthetist for help and advice. 

If you have a question for me about living as an amputee, ask! And if I don’t know the answer, I will find it for you, and I will leave no stone unturned to help you find your own personal new normal. If there is a topic you would like me to feature please let me know! I want us all to grow strong together.  Email me at Dawn@dankmeyer.com. This email is not secure, so if you wish to keep any specific health information private, you should call Dankmeyer!

Dawn Miranda joined Dankmeyer, Inc. over two years ago as a Prosthetist Assistant after relocating from San Antonio, TX.  Dawn recently left Dankmeyer to return to nursing, but still lives in the area, and continues with us as a guest blogger.