By Kendall Worth!
I have chosen the end of November 2023 to write this post because December is the second time of each and every year that the bomb of the feeling of social isolation hits Income Assistance recipients hard. This coming December 2023, is going to be different, from the 3 previous years because this December we are going to have neither COVID nor the feeling of readjusting following COVID restrictions, to deal with. As illustrated in this post , summer is the other time of year when loneliness is most extreme, and elaborated on in this post, where I also give words of encouragement, and tips for dealing with with this Bomb of Social Isolation feeling.
When we think about the month of December, we think this should be the one month out of every year, that as a society, we should be practising forgiveness and trying to repair friendships. I outlined one issue – boundaries – in this blog post. Boundaries are something we all have to respect regardless of the time of year. This means, even at Christmas, or during the month of December ,we cannot contact old friends who specifically told us not to contact them. In fact, this article from back in the Advocate on December 21st 2018 outlines that “Opportunity to repair past friendships with friends and family members whom we once had good relationships with and as far as we know are still alive and want nothing to do with us” is one specific wish that was made in the Christmas wish list in this article.
However, as this article posted December 4th 2018 points out, for Income Assistance recipients, spending the month of December the way we should, can be easier said than done. Then in this article here, posted November 10th 2019, I point out that Remembrance Day gives Income Assistance recipients a reminder that the month of December is just around the corner.
However, this year, 2023, we are coming into the month of December, unlike the previous 3 or 4 years, not knowing what to expect. As this BLOG post points out, this December, we, as a society, need to think about the homeless population, more than ever. Income Assistance recipients, who are housed, may feel the Bomb of Social Isolation is hitting them hard. The homeless who are living in those Homeless Encampments are finding community right within their encampments. However, the feeling in the air is that many of them are not going to be spending the holidays with family, this year, either. Plus, I am sure, that many of those homeless people are not going to be receiving invitations to attend things like Christmas parties, etc. So one suggestion for this December is why don’t housed income assistance recipients, and the homeless, join forces to plan how they are going to support each other? This is one suggestion for this December.
As much as this is a good suggestion, this idea is not going to rid of the anxiety that housed Income Assistance recipients face during the month of December. Even though things were different during COVID and following last year - adjusting to getting back into normal life - this December is going to be 100% back to normal. This means housed Income Assistance recipients are going to be back to the usual anxiety they felt, during the month of December, before COVID.
What is the Solution?
Not a complete Solution but if you are feeling socially isolated we have a party for you. It is intended to help you make some social connections… It is free and fun. Dec. 9th 2-4pm at St Andrews United Church at Robie and Coburg (Spring Garden) We will be making creative non-alcoholic cocktails and having some substantial hot food/snacks … You can register here but registration is not required… You are free to just show up.
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Kendall Worth is an award-winning anti-poverty activist who lives with disabilities and tries to make ends meet on income assistance. He speaks up to help those facing similar obstacles, including homelessness, in the province of Nova Scotia and beyond.
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