topic Re: Post-Christmas blues.... in Among Friends

Post-Christmas blues....

house_cat — Mon, 26 Dec 2022 14:23:06 GMT

I love Christmas and in my mind there is always an exciting buildup to the holiday. In reality, it's really not a very big deal around here. It makes me wonder why I bothered with all the decorating, baking and cooking. I'm not sure if anyone else cares about all that, other than me.

Every year I wind up feeling blue by this time... not the worrisome kind of depression or anything, just a weird melancholy that will pass soon enough.

Anyone else?

Re: Post-Christmas blues....

Citrine1 — Mon, 26 Dec 2022 14:29:58 GMT

Yes @house_cat . I feel the same way. So much anticipation and build up and then the let down. Happens every year but, as you said, it doesn't linger for too long.

And I was so excited to put up my decorations in late November and enjoyed looking at them very much, but now -- the day after Christmas -- can't wait to take them down and put them away! They'll stay up for another week, but on New Year's Day I'll be happily taking them down, ready to move on.

Re: Post-Christmas blues....

house_cat — Mon, 26 Dec 2022 14:34:05 GMT

@Citrine1

Exactly. That's my New Year's Day tradition.

Re: Post-Christmas blues....

Imaoldhippie — Mon, 26 Dec 2022 14:38:53 GMT

This is another reason why I dont like and never have the commercial side of Christmas.

Re: Post-Christmas blues....

Grace729 — Mon, 26 Dec 2022 14:40:05 GMT

Take what you like and leave the rest. What has been gently been brought to my attention is it's easy to become hypnotized by things of this world. Operating from the surface/horizontal level and not being aware of the deeper/vertical dimension that underlies all. Joy of being -simple, innate, and not had been anything brought about by the external. Humanity does not know how to sit quietly in a room. To feel the breath and simply be still. Yet in this stillness is where the deeper I resides and the joy of being. In 2017 I had the honor to travel the globe and sit in the presence of Eckhart Tolle and the presence within his form was like a log burning that lit the presence within all that attended. It's the mind that is stuck in mental constructs of boredom, depression and feeling as though there is never enough. Continuely searching for food for thought. Empty it and come empty handed and observe what comes from within as joy is deep and vast within and costs nothing. Once one recognizes satisfaction can not come from from the world of form, freedom from the external occurs. On the deepest level we all are larger than anything the external world can and does depict or hands out. Familiarize one self with the beggar on the box

Re: Post-Christmas blues....

house_cat — Mon, 26 Dec 2022 14:45:09 GMT

@Grace729

I'm very familiar with Tolle and his beliefs. I'm one of those people who is in constant motion, hence the nick-name DH gave me... Land Shark. I'm working on being mindful. It doesn't come naturally to me but I'm trying.

Re: Post-Christmas blues....

Teddixat — Mon, 26 Dec 2022 14:45:12 GMT

@Imaoldhippie I agree. I dislike the Christmas holidays. So much build up only to be let down. I was basically sick of it by September because of the endless Christmas shows and Black Friday, super Black Fridays and super duper Black Fridays. Enough already.

Re: Post-Christmas blues....

house_cat — Mon, 26 Dec 2022 14:46:54 GMT

@Imaoldhippie

@Teddixat

That's the thing! I love all the hype and buildup and everything that goes with the season, only to feel let-down every year. You would think I'd learn.

Re: Post-Christmas blues....

Teddixat — Mon, 26 Dec 2022 14:47:50 GMT

@house_cat You're human❤️

Re: Post-Christmas blues....

CrazyKittyLvr2 — Mon, 26 Dec 2022 14:49:39 GMT

I always looked forward to the after Christmas slump.

Christmas was fun when the kids were small and I didn't work outside the home. When I started working and had that plus the extra cooking, baking, shopping, wrapping and decorating I was tickled pink when the holiday was over.

Now, kids are middle aged, no small kids, I don't care about the holiday. I do gifts but no tree (for 20 yrs.), no cards, no hoopla etc. Guess what, no one cares.

Re: Post-Christmas blues....I

Cookie2025 — Mon, 26 Dec 2022 15:02:58 GMT

If I did not decorate, cook or buy fun gifts my Family and friends would think I was sick and dying.

They really would.

One day I was feeling bad and I told my Son I didn't know if it was worth decorating and he told me that was a part of me he appreciated. He did comment it gets a little wild but he and others appreciated my 'trashing' the house with every Holiday.

Re: Post-Christmas blues....

Sooner — Mon, 26 Dec 2022 15:10:59 GMT

@house_cat

No let down here. No build-up here. Christmas is a day for a nice meal, nothing spectacular, a few more treats in the season, and a day to enjoy and be thankful for as any other day. We put up a beautiful 12-ft tree with a nativity set. No gifts--only the mail carrier!

The huge Christmas whoop belonged to my mother. We never had that at our house. It was hers or none and she was the queen of the show. She even refused to go anywhere else after my dad was gone. Family, child of older couple here, has been gone a long time.

We used to have office parties and association parties and we'd have several for friends in December, that's all gone too. Don't really miss it either.

To everything there is a season, and now it's a quiet one, just thankful for every day on the earth with each other. And no big deal, no let down.

Re: Post-Christmas blues....

wagirl — Mon, 26 Dec 2022 15:16:06 GMT

No I don't get the blues---just a huge sigh of relief that the years end is almost done---stresses me out when Xmas starts in August and goes for 4 solid months---it's a retail thing and seems to start earlier and earlier.

Re: Post-Christmas blues....

Meowingkitty — Mon, 26 Dec 2022 15:17:46 GMT

We keep things simple. Two small trees, nice dinner and that's it. We buy something for both of us as our gift so no wrapping etc. It's still a bit of a letdown. I have to get my butt in gear and pack things away because next week we are having our floors redone so I have no choice but to take stuff down. I will leave the smaller tree in the back room up longer.

Re: Post-Christmas blues....

LindaSal — Mon, 26 Dec 2022 15:21:40 GMT

I don't find sadness or feel let down though the excitement has dissipated. I am still happy for our beautiful day yesterday and feel quite blessed. I like the quietness after the holiday. I just seem to reflect as I slowly clean up the place today. My decorations stay up for awhile as we find it enjoyable. As far as the commercial stuff, I feel you can get wrapped up in it or choose not to, JMO.

Re: Post-Christmas blues....

SeaMaiden — Mon, 26 Dec 2022 15:54:08 GMT

This was the first year I totally did ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. I usually just decorate my front door....and I did not even do that ...

Christmas came and went...and with the issues we had with bad weather...snow, and freezing rain, I did not even think about Christmas. Just stayed home as the streets were not fit for driving...I was thankful for heat and lights.

@house_cat Maybe try not to do Christmas next year......

What I have come to find is that Christmas really just a lot of hype...and disappointment Plus over spending and people asking for money right and left....just look forward not backwards.....

Re: Post-Christmas blues....

haddon9 — Mon, 26 Dec 2022 16:02:58 GMT

I feel the same way....I had a wonderful Christmas with family yesterday! It was a bit more relaxing than ususal since we opened gifts at home but went to SIL for Christmas dinner.

I also did a LOT of decorating (I don't do baking thank goodness because I would be 50lbs. heavier if I did!), cleaning, etc. It is a lot of exhausting work.....today I feel blah!

I'm still in my PJ's and I might get changed into a "lounge outfit" which to me is another pair of PJ's only too hot for me to actually sleep in like velour bottoms. (another very cold day!)

I don't feel like going out and I only have a few things that I need to do. I downloaded a new book and I think I will stay in my comfy clothes and read today.

Re: Post-Christmas blues....

meallen616 — Mon, 26 Dec 2022 16:08:26 GMT

It can get overwhelming, but, I try to control my anxiety.

Re: Post-Christmas blues....

Danky2 — Mon, 26 Dec 2022 16:20:20 GMT

@house_cat wrote:
@Grace729

I'm very familiar with Tolle and his beliefs. I'm one of those people who is in constant motion, hence the nick-name DH gave me... Land Shark. I'm working on being mindful. It doesn't come naturally to me but I'm trying.

@house_cat is one of my favorite posters and I think it is wonderful that she knows what you are talking about. I do too but ,I must admit, that your posts are over the top FOR ME.....This is supposed to be a light ,sometimes airy ,sometimes tragic things that have a direct implication on people's lives. Your constant need to profess psycho-babble is off-putting to say the least. You can say what you like but I won't be reading them .

Happy New Year and maybe you could be a little less intense.

Re: Post-Christmas blues....

Foxxee — Mon, 26 Dec 2022 17:50:36 GMT

I'm sad it's over.

I always cried every Christmas day as a child. My mother knew why, but still always asked, "Don't you like your Christmas presents? I answered, "I do, it's just that it's all over. Christmas is over."

Even though, I do most of the work, it's sad for me that such a beautiful, colorful season, is over.

My parents went out of their way to create pleasant memories for us...those that would last, we would talk about, the rest of our lives. I follow in their tradition. Celebrating Christmas is creating warm memories and receiving blessings from above that I wouldn't give up for anything.