Holidays. Christmas cheer. Dinner with family and friends. These are all things to look forward to, and most of us get into the holiday season with an exhausted good cheer that carries us through, even events we don't enjoy. Not to be a Scrooge, but now is also the time to realize holidays aren't pleasant for everyone, and we may be causing someone grief through well-intended actions. A few articles have come out about this, giving tips on dealing with loneliness and how much families can vary in how they celebrate Christmas.
People may be down for several reasaons. The economy has taken some of the joy out of shopping. Not everyone has a family nearby, or a family at all. They may be marking the "first" of everything after losing a loved one. Christmas has a way of making one think about their family, and not every family situation is pleasant to think about. If you miss someone, you seem to miss them extra during this entire season.
What to do? How to help? There likely isn't a lot to do, just be mindful that someone who doesn't do backflips over Rudolph decorations or nativity scenes isn't a "Scrooge" and shouldn't be pressured to fit in or fake it. When extending invitations, let everyone be welcome but nobody be pressured. If you are one of the people who suffers from holiday doldrums, consider volunteering. It is a great thing, it makes you feel great, and it's also a reminder that the magic of the season still worked and something good came out of it. For those who are grieving, reaching out to a nursing home or church program can build new and better memories to associate with the holidays.
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