Image: voices.yahoo.com
What should be a season of glad tidings and cheer is a nightmare for those who find themselves alone on Christmas. For different reasons, there are people who will be celebrating the holidays alone. Whether the reason is a lack of close relationships or their loved ones are far away is irrelevant. At every turn, there are advertisements, commercials, movies, and TV specials that oversell the idea that the Christmas holidays is best spent with crowds, presents, and a heavily set dinner table covered with food. The problem with that image is that it promotes false expectations and has turned Christmas into a loud, busy, and materialistic circus. What’s even more problematic is that society pities and shames the people who fail to live up to this image. Not everyone needs to be surrounded by presents and parties in order to enjoy Christmas. There are even people who experience depression and anguish during this time and they do not need pity from another to make things worse for them.
Here are six suggestions of what you can do when if you find yourself alone on Christmas and still feel joy. At the very least, these ideas should help in changing your perspective of what it means to be alone during the holidays.
1) Do Not Feel Sorry for Yourself: While understandable that it’s difficult being alone on Christmas, wallowing in the “Woe is me” mindset isn’t conducive in surviving the holidays. Begin to recognize that you’re not the only person in the world who will be alone at Christmas. There are people out there in the world that will be alone for Christmas. Some of these people might even be less fortunate than you are right now. It’s your attitude that can make this day a positive or negative one. Once you understand that, then you can consider the second suggestion.
2) Reach Out to Others: One of the best methods of taking your mind off your own self-pity is to focus on others. Christmas is a prime time for volunteering and being with others who are in the same position as you. The act of giving also helps in reminding you of all of the blessings that you have in your life. You can call your local hospital, homeless shelter, or retirement home, and inquire about opportunities for you to spread a little holiday cheer on Christmas. Giving your time and effort to people in need feels much more rewarding than receiving a gift. After all, this is the season of giving. What’s more valuable than the gift of being present to those who experience feelings of loneliness and isolation during Christmas. Also, there are helplines that are available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week if you are in need of emotional support and a caring voice. The Toronto Distress Centre is a very successful helpline that provides emotional support for youth and adults.
3) Go Outside: You would be surprised at how effective walking outside can be on raising the spirit. Some of the wonderful things about the Christmas holidays are the sights and smells including: snow blanketing every surface, houses and buildings decorated in twinkling lights, and the strong aroma of roast turkey emanating from the houses in your neighbourhood. Bundle up and go for a stroll around your area. Take in the sights of the trees, as they stand tall and majestic on their own with their branches covered in ice and snow. If you’re in the downtown core, the streets are lined with bright and colourful lights. The storefront windows of The Bay at Queen and Yonge always have spectacular Christmas displays and Yonge and Dundas Square is always a festive sight during this time of year. Lastly, you’re never too old to make snow angels and building a friendly snowman in the park, so unleash your inner child and frolic in the snow. Enjoy the beauty of the great outdoors!
4) Look Forward: As the year is quickly ending, use this time to think about your New Year’s resolutions. There is no better time than the present to work out a plan as to what you can do to make the year 2014 more productive and rewarding. If you’re planning on taking up a new hobby in 2014, begin your research on it and see how you can work that hobby into your daily life for the upcoming year. In addition, if you work from home, then Christmas would be a good time to catch up on the work that you had set aside until the New Year. It’s better to be productive than to just lie in bed with only your thoughts for company.
5) Nurture Yourself: Just because you’re alone doesn’t mean you can’t treat yourself like royalty. Take this day as an opportunity to enjoy the solitude and engage in activities that make you happy. These activities could be anything from giving yourself hugs and composing a list of twenty qualities that you love about yourself to planning a fantastic meal featuring your favourite foods. While you’re at it, you could even buy yourself a very special present. The best thing about buying yourself a present is that it’s exactly what you want, in the size, colour, and shape that you want. Even though we buy things for ourselves during the year, we should do the same thing at Christmas. We are worth the effort!
6) Build Your Own Tradition: This is where you need to exercise your creativity and imagination. Do you have a computer? Plan an online Christmas where you set up a Facebook group or skype with online friends and long distant relatives. Play your favourite music instead of Christmas tunes and jingles that you’ve heard up to one hundred times within the past three weeks. If you’re used to going out to other people’s houses for Christmas, try going to the movie theatre. The movie theatres are usually open on holidays so going to the movies to watch a light-hearted film could become part of your new-found personal holiday. Whatever you choose to do on Christmas, only include the things that are guaranteed to make you happy and rejoice in the fact that you have the freedom to celebrate this time of year in the way that’s your own special way. The rest of the world can keep their age-old Christmas traditions.
It’s your attitude that can make or break your holiday. Image: essentialsurvival.org
Look Beyond the Tinsel and Garland
You can still have the best Christmas possible even if you are alone. The key is to get a little creative and recognizing that Christmas can be a day dedicated to you and only you. There will be no pressure, no screaming relatives, and no mounting expenses when it’s just you celebrating the day. Don’t let the flawed societal idea that being alone is going to ruin your Christmas. Focus on the true meaning of Christmas: love and gratitude. Love the fact that your own company is the best gift you can give to yourself and be grateful for all of the wonderful things in your life, be it good health, a warm roof over your head, or even your pet.
Fresh Print magazine wishes all of its readers a wonderful and beautiful holiday season. For those who are struggling with the idea of celebrating Christmas alone, for whatever reason, we wish you care, comfort, and love during this time.
