Are you in the throes of Christmas cheer and bonhomie ? Or, are you lacking in ‘Ho, Ho, Ho’ and feeling ‘Bah Humbug’ this Year ? Christmas is a time when emotions are heightened and memories can either enchant or disenchant us.
Not everybody finds Christmas an easy time. For some it can be a difficult time. A time when the expectations of others turn into pressures and absences can become disappointments. At Christmas time memories can become painful, translating into regrets and disillusionment.
When, for whatever reason, Christmas feels difficult to cope with it’s easy to imagine that everyone outside your own four walls is having the best of times. Easy to imagine that the whole world is feeling happy, having fun and that you are being excluded. In this sense, Christmas is a myth.
Whatever your beliefs around the original Christmas story we live in an era where the idea of bringing gifts to the saviour of mankind has been latched onto by the world of commerce. Christmas has become a commercial modern day myth. The giving of bigger and better gifts is promoted as the way to show loved ones how much you care. Gifts given may offer the false promise of increased self esteem for both the giver and the recipient. Often the giving of gifts replaces acts of kindness and thoughtfulness on the part of the giver. Maybe it’s that gifts are given in an attempt to placate the emotional needs of the recipient.
Whether you are happily full of Christmas bonhomie or ‘Bah Humbugging’ it this year, take a few moments to think about this season of peace and goodwill to all. Peace and goodwill are born from kindness and thoughtfulness. It matters not which camp you find yourself in this year. It is compassion and understanding which will bring about the healing of hurts and the inspiration for happiness and positivity.
Strive to be happy
Jacqueline
