Community Chat

[newjersey]

@Shorty2U, I somehwat understand what you mean.    I'm only 57, but am kind of looking forward to it being over too.    Too hectic.  I guess I'm just a homebody who likes quiet, lol.

[newjersey]

@kcladyz, I'm sorry to read this about you. 

[Allegheny]

When I think about Christmas, Barry Manilow singing "Tryin to get the feeling again" starts in my head.

I don't know when my inner joy regarding the Christmas season disappeared.  Even in younger days, when single and living alone, Christmas gave me a special feeling.  There was a feeling of geniune happiness almost everywhere the weeks leading up to Christmas.

Sometime I think that the rushing of the holiday starting in October may have  affected by how I feel. 

[Desert Lily]

I would be grateful to feel overwhelmed with the hustle-bustle of Christmas. But, I lost 2 of my loved ones this year that I would be celebrating it with. Years ago when my extended family lived in close proximity, my brother stated that it was just too much work and fuss to have a huge Christmas Eve dinner and another one on Christmas Day. My mom had even had Christmas Eve catered one year. We switched to having a casual chili meal on Christmas Eve, and it worked out so nicely. I worked in my family's business until 6:00 pm Christmas Eves, giving other workers the Eve off, so I welcomed the change. When bringing up my child, on the holidays I hosted at home, I made my child's favorite, beef stew. Those one-pot meals can be saviors. On Christmas Day, we'd have a fancier meal and then my child and I would sneak off to the movies later. I would have never given up working those Christmas rush days; I loved helping people make other people happy and seeing the synergy. And I loved the holidays with my family. I miss busy holidays now.

[YorkieonmyPillow]

No I don't feel that way at all; I love Christmas, it's my favorite holiday. It's a special time of year.

[Marienkaefer2]

I think our society has set up such expectations for Christmas.

There is such a build up to it now that starts at the end of summer.

By the last week before Christmas, I think a lot of people get tired out.

I started feeling this way a few years ago.  Then we decided to keep it simple.

We have so many occasions throughout the year when we enjoy our family and friends.

It's not all piled onto this one day.

We keep Christmas for remembering the real meaning behind it.  We don't do the big thing anymore.

I think that helps keep everything in perspective for us.

[esmerelda]

I haven't read all of the posts but find I agree with many that I have read.

Day-to-day life is busy enough, and then comes Christmas with all of it's must-do's, would-like-to-do's, have-always-done's, making life even busier.

I enjoy the day after Christmas much more than the days leading up to it.

[Marienkaefer2]

Another thing you can do to escape the Christmas "blahs" is to go away.

We used to plan a trip every year, either leaving on Christmas Day or the day after.

Sometimes we'd go somewhere we could drive to, or sometimes we'd fly.

We haven't done it the last couple of years, for various reasons, and I miss it.

I hope we can try this next year again.

[pattypeep]

@Shorty2U  I feel so bad for you. Christmas should be a happy, blessed event and for many it has become stressful and exhausting as you said. Perhaps we all need to learn  to cut corners and take time to smell the Christmas tree. God Bless You.

[house_cat]

I'm convinced that the  only good thing about holidays is how relieved I feel when they're over.. but not yet, because Christmas is followed by my most hated, dreaded, depressing holiday of all - New Year's Eve.