@maryjacy asked me to participate along in a contest about "What have you done this christmas" (Her cool post is over here). And since I haven't done anything out of what I ordinarily do, and can't compete with an answer like "I didn't do anything", because that would be boring, so I decided to opt-out.
That question, however, reminded me of an answer I recieved when I asked a friend of mine that same question, "What are you doing this Christmas?". I received an answer which normally people wouldn't expect on such a joyful occasion, and it gave me the idea about this thoughtful post, so here's his answer:
Sitting alone in bed, under the blankets, because no heat source otherwise in this freezing weather. In a pitch-black room, because no power left in the drained 12v battery to power-up half an amp of an LED light, or even the router that connects to what seems like a living world outside.
Sipping some cold coffee while writing this on what little power a phone battery still have, off-line, hoping to get a glimpse of electricity for an hour or two today so the batteries may recharge a bit, and can get back online again to what little life I might have left.
Merry Christmas to you too!
~ A Friend
Now, this might be an extreme and peculiar situation. He isn't living off-grid, and not in a secluded area or a distant countryside, as you might think, but in the heart of the oldest capital city in the world.
Maybe just too old for its own good? 🤷♂️
A typical day for him, nothing new, not since they "won" the war five or so years ago, as their government insists!
Oh, well. Though this guy seems to me normal, joyful, and positive most of the time, he throws in some odd stories from time to time, and he's probably crazy anyways.
I'm just glad we all, or most of us atleast, are far from such an uncanny situation, and hopefully no-one ever experiences what that guy might be going through.
It makes me think and reflect, nontheless. Every Christmas or holiday that has come, year after year since ever, makes me have some mixed feelings.
Happy on one hand, when I see the joy and the loving spirit it brings with it to so many people around the world, but a little sad and depressed on the other hand when I know how some others are going through it, or are completely excluded for whatever reasons sometimes.
The "holiday blues" or "winter blues", as it's commonly referred to, not a recognized psychiatric condition in the DSM (A manual for the diagnosis of mental health issues used by clinicians). But it's a real thing many people have to contend with a lot of times, and it's much more common than we think, as up to 20 percent of Americans experience a mild version of SAD.
While its causes and symptoms may be varying from one person to another, the end result is the same, a persistent or reoccurring sadness throughout the holidays.
We don't have to be in a similar situation as the one my friend I quoted above is going through to have the blues, however. Simply going through a difficult time, being lonely, having financial troubles, or over stressing about life in general is sufficient to make it tough when we see others with extra joy in their lives.
Now, how does all what I've talked about connect together, you might ask?
Well, as a wise man once said:
"Appreciate what you HAVE and who you HAVE, before time makes you bemoan what you HAD, and who you HAD."
~ me
I've heard a lot of stories about wars and how people lose everything and sometimes everyone they love. And I'm sure, no realization can be greater than the one they get from such a traumatic experience about how they should've appreciated what they had and the people around them that they loved.
The only way to get over the blues and actually have fun and enjoy life, despite what we might be going through is appreciating what we have, and who we have.
Holidays are made for this, for families and friends to gather and to appreciate one another. And I'm not talking about fake gatherings and flashy parties, as those can be one of the reasons for the blues in first place. I'm talking about surrounding ourselves with those we truely love and enjoy their company.
Money and other problems in life come and go, stressing about them won't change anything, and most of our issues would simply disappear if we focus on what really matters instead.
As for loneliness. Just look around you, you're never alone, even if you have no family or friends to speak of, it's a state of mind of our own creation, friendly people are all around the world, and humans are really one big family after all.
My intention in this post was to serve as a reminder for everyone to appreciate what they have, and enjoy this journey we call life.
If it gives you lemons 🍋 sometimes, then what would be a better time for making some refreshing lemonade?
Celebrate what you can and what you want, when you can and how you want. Regardless of your religion and traditions, never feel excluded, because you're not.
I read a very touching paragraph in a thoughtful post by @thekittygirl few days ago, in her post she was suggesting how to make the winter holidays more inclusive to all the people all over the world, transcending their countries, religions, ethnicity, or race. A #wintermas as she calls it, and started a tag about it, years before I came here!
So I would love to end my post with her beautiful words, quoting from her post:
~ @thekittygirlFor those who see the light, I wish you cheer.
For those who feel the darkness, I wish you cheer.
For those who are lifting themselves, I wish you cheer.
For those who are waiting to be lifted, I wish you cheer.
Whatever your beliefs, whatever your path,
know that I wish you cheer... and peace.
● Thank you for reading ●
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