FESTIVE SEASON STRUGGLES

[Doolhof]

Season's Greetings everyone.

We have a lovely cheery Christmas and New Years thread started up in the Social Zone. Hope you can drop by there and share some joy and happiness.

This is the alternate thread, where you can share the not so pleasant memories of Christmas or the concerns you may have for Christmas 2016.

For me, my depressive brain decides to hassle me about Christmas in November! That is so unnecessary! I need to break this habit!

So on this thread you can share the negative and hopefully find a positive at the end.

You might like to share what the worst present was that you ever received, or how sad and miserable you are at Christmas.

By sharing, we may well be able to help and support each other through a time that can be very tough for some.

This is the place to vent, the thread on the Social Zone is also waiting for you to add your happy thoughts and memories of Christmas and New Years.

Thinking of you all, hugs from Mrs. Dools

[Starwolf]

Thank you for sharing those pearls of wisdom, Blackcat.

Thank you for joining this thread.

Thank you for the refreshing alternative to Blackdog.

You're a legend !

[Doolhof]

Hi Blackcat and Everyone,

Making a list and checking it twice, regarding how to make Christmas more enjoyable is an excellent idea! Thanks for sharing that with us all.

It is wonderful so many of you are encouraging and listening to each other. I am going to miss you all for a few days while we are away from the internet!

Today I had an appointment with an employment adviser. Before I left the appointment, I gave her a Christmas Card and thanked her for her assistance these last couple of months. She said it was the first card she had ever received from a client. She ripped the envelope open straight away.

It made me feel good inside to know that my acknowledging her in such a small way seemed to make her happy.

I have no idea what our Christmas day will hold. I am going to tryt o make the most of it.

Cheers all from Mrs. Dools

[Shred1106]

Hey Mrs Dools

Just wanted to take the opportunity to thank you for all your support on line. I hope your Christmas overseas is a pleasant one. I shall take a moment during the day to think of you and all the others who post on this thread...

We are not off on our trip till mid next week and are also away for New Year.

So, if we don't hear from you before you fly Mrs Dools - safe travels...

Shred out

[Doolhof]

Dear Shred,

Thank you so very much for your lovely words and sentiments. I quite often think of everyone who uses this forum and I send up little prayers hoping that lives are transformed for the better in some way.

I do understand the anonymity of this forum, at times it would be nice to know more about the person whom we are connecting with. This is obviously the best way to conduct such a forum where so many personal issues are shared.

Yesterday I bought some small toys to give to children we might see on Christmas Day. I am going to embrace Christmas in which ever way it is presented this year.

I've sent some cards, decorated the house a little for us and our guests last night and will be joining in a Christmas party tonight for one of the organisations I volunteer with.

So here is a big HO HO HO, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you Shred,

Cheers from Mrs. Dools

[Kazzl]

Hi Mrs Dools - I want to wish you safe travels and a Christmas full of peace and goodwill. Take care of you, we want you back in one piece.

And I propose that those of us here on Christmas Day raise our virtual glasses in Mrs Dools' honour.

Cheers hun

Kaz

[Sandy centre]

Dear Mrs Dools

thank you for your help and support

i wish you a very safe trip and a Merry Christmas!

Take Care

Sylvia x

[nowhereman]

Hi. I have had a bit of trouble coping with this time of year.cause my family is gone.just my mother left.and shes abit mad. Shes white.and thinks she is black.why i dont know.she always brings back past painful issues like my sister and brother who had painful deaths. And still runs down my dad .who also died alone. I dont like her one bit. And it intensifies around this time of year. I loved my grandma and mum runs her down. She talks bad about lots of people.now do you understand my depression? Max

[Elizabeth CP]

Hi all, I really liked Mrs Dools attitude to Christmas:
Yesterday I bought some small toys to give to children we might see on Christmas Day. I am going to embrace Christmas in whichever way it is presented this year.I've sent some cards, decorated the house a little for us and our guests last night and will be joining in a Christmas party tonight for one of the organisations I volunteer with.

I think all of us can learn from her example. Rather than focusing on what wasn't ideal she focused on what she could do to fit in with her own wishes & needs while still fitting in with her partners plans. 'She 'decorated the house for us' not to fit in with anyone elses idea or expectations. Éach of us should be deciding what we would like or what would make us feel happier, less stressed, more in control or whatever other feeling we want & then do it for ourself. Anything which has the opposite effect needs to be crossed firmly off our to do list.

what do others think ?

[Doolhof]

Dear Kaz, Sylvia and Elizabeth,

Thank you so very much for your very kind words and sentiments. I too will be thinking of you all on Christmas Day and will drink a cheer to each and every one of you.

Last night I attended a Christmas BBQ at one of my volunteer places. We actually had a Secret Santa where we each bought a gift for one person in the group. I struggled to but that gift and put a lot of thought into it and tried to make it funny as well.

Everyone's gifts were well received. It was a lovely evening with extended families as well. My husband stayed at home, but that was okay, he was happy watching the cricket and I had plenty of people to chat with. I was also very blessed to be able to cuddle a 4 week old baby. That moment made my heart melt.

Tomorrow we are off on the plane to Bali. I will embrace the festivities and our holiday. I look forward to sunsets on the beach (at least one...my husband dislikes the beach with a passion. Ha. Ha.)

I wish you all a sense of peace, and please remember that if life does get really tough and yuck for you, there are people out there willing to listen and to read how you are feeling. You never have to feel like you are alone.

Thinking of you all, love and hugs again from Mrs. D

[Starwolf]

Have a terrific holiday, Mrs Dools.

We'll miss your presence around the forums and will be thinking of you.