We are now officially in the holiday season. With Halloween behind us, we’re now facing down the end of the year and the overdose of holidays we experience through to the end. First, Thanksgiving (one of my personal favorites), then Christmas (or possibly one of the other end of year/birth of religious figure/winter festivals celebrated around the world – me, I’ll stick with what I know best), and finally New Year’s Eve. From here on out it seems like one big party everywhere you turn. I love the holidays, but I have to admit, sometimes I wish they’d go away.
I’m not trying to be all bah-humbug about it, but the holidays can be hard. They can be a strangely lonely time. They can bring up a lot of weird shit for a person. There is a certain melancholy that goes with the holidays that not everyone sees or thinks about, but it’s real and everyone should be on the lookout.
From my own personal experience, there are two major things that the holidays bring up – my family and how I don’t see them nearly enough and a certain period of my life where I thought I had it all figured out. Both can be rough to deal with.
And that’s why I’m writing this…to remind you all that while people may seem ok on the outside, they’re not always doing ok. Me, I’m doing great and this isn’t some sort of call for help (I’m sure someone will “read between the lines” and be certain I need it…trust me, I’d tell you right here if I did.) I’m talking about all the people around you…remember, you often don’t know what someone is going through until it’s too late.
I’ve spent the holidays in dark places and know how the “holiday spirit” can magnify those feelings. Polar opposite effect, but it does happen. I can tell you from personal experience, a lot of what I have felt revolves around the lack of someone to share it all with. Why decorate my apartment if I’m the only one who gets to see it? It’s that kind of simple thought that can take a normally happy go-lucky person down in an instant.
In the past few years, I’ve been lucky enough to have been somewhat adopted by friends who always include me in their holiday festivities and it’s been a welcome comfort for someone who lives far from “home.”
The holidays should be fun and filled with excitement for everyone. So this year, take a look around and find someone that needs a little something extra. From a simple gesture to a grand plan to give them a holiday like no other…whatever it is, just give some of it back to the universe and do it selflessly. Money and toys and donations to causes are great, but so are time and kind words.
Make someone’s holiday better this year with one simple gesture. Set your mind to it and make the world a slightly better place.
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