Lifting Spirits

Carolyn Magner is not a professional therapist, shrink or even a very nice person. Her advice is meant to entertain you, not solve your terrible, desperate problems. E-mail Carolyn at cmagner@rrpub.com.

Dear Carolyn,

This is a hard time of year for long-haul truckers. I want to reach out to all those guys and gals out there who are going to be away from home over Thanksgiving and/or Christmas. It’s tough — I’ve been there. I was wondering if you had any suggestions for how to make this a less lonely time.

Jason

Dear Jason,

Over the years, readers have been very generous with their holiday tips. You can take time to volunteer in a soup kitchen, reach out to your fellow truckers by greeting them in the truckstop, stay in touch with friends and family via phone and Internet. But mostly it’s a time when you have to reach down deep and get through it. I highly recommend preparing in advance.

Maybe load up on some good movies or books on CD to lighten the mood. Take care of your physical health by eating healthy and getting exercise. Evaluate your spiritual life and see if your burden can be eased by exploring your faith.