Maye
Christmas "Spirit"
Posted on: 12/17/2008 23:12
I have experienced Christmas Spirit before. I really have. That wonderful feeling of inner peace and contentment, of loving your fellow man, of kindness and goodness, that Hallmark Movie-of-the-Week feeling. I have felt it.
But not for a long, long time.
Every year I struggle with the Christmas Blues. Every year, I change something - work less hours, volunteer more, do this, stop doing that, avoid the people who bother me, invite everyone I know for drinks and goodies - and I think, "Ah-ha! This is year that I'll beat it. This is the thing I needed to get rid of/add to my life and now I'll have a magical, peaceful Christmas."
It doesn't seem to help. I can't get a handle on it. I think I've beaten the blues, and then WHAM! I'm hit again with it again.
I don't know what else to do. I know it will go away by New Year's, it always does, but I want it to never come.
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Comments
Pilgrims Progress
Posted on: 12/18/2008 01:17
Maye, You are not alone when it comes to being blue at Christmas. I think it's partly because our expectations are too high.
You mentioned that you once enjoyed Christmas. Perhaps if you look back to that time you might reflect on what you had then, compared to now?
Unless you're a small child, I think it makes more sense to settle for an okay Christmas.
carolla
Posted on: 12/19/2008 23:44
I really agree with PilgrimsProgress - there's so much artificial hype around Xmas that if we don't feel jolly then we think something's wrong with us. Not true, in my opinion. I have the feeling that all the "warm fuzzies" are more myth than reality - if people are telling the truth. So Maye, perhaps don't be so hard on yourself.
Ariel
Posted on: 12/22/2008 20:04
Hi Maye
I think sometimes we can have an idea of how we are supposed to feel at Christmas. Then we put so much pressure on ourselves to feel this way, and when we don't ,we feel let down.
I try to let go of any preconceived notions of how each Christmas is supposed to be. Last years may have been great, but cannot be repeated. This year is this year. I find it helps when I focus on the most important part of Christmas, which is Emmanuel - God with us. Beyond this, it doesn't really matter how everything else pans out. Maybe all the gifts are perfect or maybe not. Perhaps the dinner is mouth watering good, or perhaps it ended up over-cooked. Sometimes we are surrounded by many people, and other times it's just us. Still Christmas comes and we can be thankful that our God loved us enough to take on human flesh and live among us. And if we are at the point that this is all we have left to hold on to this Christmas season, we have more than enough.
Blessings on you,
Ariel