Can we share our strategies to cope with Christmas and the New Years?

[romantic_thi3f]

Hello!

I have been thinking about this a lot lately and I know I'm not alone in it, but Christmas isn't the 'greatest time of the year' for me. I tend to struggle a bit because all the tv ads make me feel like I should be really happy and making a giant roast for my adorable and loving family and that's just not the case at all 😞

So I thought, if maybe Christmas isn't great for others either, maybe you can share ways that you get through it?

One of the things that I've been doing is a lot of journalling and gaming to distract me, and I've also made up a few code words so that when I'm away I can try and sneak out for 5 minutes. I also bought myself a Christmas present as well (Majorly into jigsaws lately) which feels really nice.

Looking forward to seeing all of your ideas.

rt

[mmMekitty]

Because Xmas & New Year too for that matter, we could include the Ekka holiday, Queens' Birthday, & Labor Day too, dont' mean the thiings they were dsigned to mean for me, I decided to make of these days what I will.

Used to be days when you'd plan ahead for when the shops closed. They don't do tha much at all anymore, but I still tend to plan ahead, especially around this latter half of December to the first half of January. I don't like huge shopping crowds.

The food I want to indulge in is food (using that term lightly) I ought not eat at any time, but once a year, I enjoy some of these things.

I think I am drawn to tradition,& am sort of creating my own Xmas/New Year Week tradition. I have a loose list of things I do for one week. Certain books, music, tele, decorations, (mmm maybe - it's a hard one when once they are out they fade from my sight as soon as I step a couple paces away, so why, I ask), food , of-course, & I'd like to incorporate a place or type of place to go. & there are a couple pieces of clothing, & like stickers on things, I rather like the little emojis. Not enough really, & a few aren't so good, I reckon, but Xmas is brimming with crap so that's okay!

mmMekitty

[geoff]

Hello Rt, I don't like this time of the year and haven't gone to any sibling Xmas parties for years, all the questions I'm asked is just too much, so I never go and would be happy just to be by myself, except that my sons visit me, one who lives close by and cooks me a roast, and my other son and his two young daughters I see boxing day or after.

I pretend to my granddaughters because it's their time, but since Mum passed away there is no joy at this time of the year and all my family know, as my grandmother used to say 'the sooner it comes the sooner it's gone'.

I am sorry this has happened.

Geoff.

[blondguy]

Hey Hey RT 🙂

Always a bonus to read your input and excellent thread!

I feel your frustration with Christmas as it can be a difficult time of year for so many (me included!)

For children its a wonderful magical time. I just noticed that Geoff spoke from the heart above and also appears somewhat sad about Christmas yet he should be over the moon as he has a son that can prepare a roast so Christmas does have some meaning to him which is great

I havent had a roast since the early 1980's...I wish! I guess some folk dont appreciate how lucky they are

Christmas is a special time for children/kids....they deserve it

Merry Christmas romantic_thi3f and thankyou so much for the guidance you have provided to so many...

my kindest always

Paul

[mmMekitty]

The little kid inside me is clamouring to keep that sparkly, singing, happy, magical, illusion as we adults know, all alive! For those of us who had rough childhoods, now we can give ourselves something we missed out on, but as I'v been trying to say, we need to actively inviting the child's idea of Xmas to awaken & just take over for a bit. You know, whatever you feel you lack or are missing at this time, you can create it for yourself.

I don't want to rely on someone else to bring Xmas to me. Sure, it was nice when one of my helpers had asked me to lunch with her & her family & friends, wonderful, in fact, but I know I cannot take it for granted that anyone I know will do that every year.So,in any event, I plan for myself. This year, because so many events I might have gone to are not happening, I'm definitely planning for myself, you know, while waiting for the New Year, & having some serious treatment, I am going to make sure I have some fun.

It turns out, my sis is likely to be elsewhere, if she can possibly be. Her son is in Perth, so that's what she wants to do.

Someone I know has sent me an email,& quite unexpectedly, he has wished me a happy Xmas. He has flattly refused before, no gifts, no party, no nothing, because his past was so terrible. So rather than have a major crisis every year (& for his birthday too(, he chose to avoid & deny himself the possibility that now wouldn't be a repeat of his childhood experiences. So, getting his email was wonderful. I hope this is a turning point for him.

mmMekitty