‘Tis the Season

December is often described as the season of giving.  It is a lovely sentiment.  The reality may be different for many of us.  Although billed as the joy of giving it can sometimes feel like dread, emptiness, loneliness, and sadness.  The Christmas marketing campaign, full of those happy faces and family reunions can leave us feeling like we are doing something wrong, we should be happy, and we aren’t, leaving us with one gift of the holidays that seems to keep on giving; GUILT.

The pandemic put some of those dreaded parties and get-togethers on hiatus, permanently cancelling others and that was good.  Some traditions just don’t need to continue.  That is ok. When giving begins to feel more like a burden than a joy, it may not be that something is wrong with you, it may be that something is right with you.  Take stock in how you feel this Christmas.  Jot it down in a journal so you can refer to it next year.  You don’t have to continue to do things simply because, “that’s how it has always been.”  Spice it up.  Think of giving differently. 

Give of your time to a needy cause.  Our family is very flexible when it comes to Christmas gifts.  One year we all put the money we would have given to each other and contributed to a program that works with Autistic children in memory of a family member.  One year we again pulled our money together in lieu of gifts and spent it on our summer family vacation.  This year we are doing consumables.  It has been fun to share our preferences with each other.  Anything from coffee and hot tea to kettle chips and beef jerky.  We have a tradition of not always sticking to a tradition.  We think of each year in a new way and take time to be together to eat good food and enjoy each other’s company. 

This year if you are feeling overwhelmed by the season use it as a time to begin to think about next year. What do I want to do?  What is meaningful to me and my family.  Just because we always have is not a good enough reason to continue.

Whatever you decide, it’s ok.  See you in 2023! God Bless, Annie