We hear it all the time around the holidays.
Give lots of gifts. Spread cheer. Be happy and spread love.
I get it. It's the holidays. Yes, it is important to give to others. It is important to try to brighten other's days. However, if you have something else going on in your life, no one can blame you for not wanting to shine as bright as Christmas lights. I've been there.
The holidays are a time to be happy. This is true. However, the holidays are also a time of year that can make some people very depressed. Sometimes, with family in town, people can be completely and totally overwhelmed. We love our families, but sometimes being surrounded by them for days at a time can cause tension and stress. PSA: It doesn't make you a bad person to feel this way. We've all been there.
I think the most important thing about the holidays, overall, is to reflect on the year you've had. Maybe you haven't been super nice this year. Maybe you've had a lot going on, and you've lashed out at others often. If this is you, use the holidays as an opportunity to give to others. It doesn't make up for the things you did, but I promise that it'll make it much easier for you to forgive yourself, all while putting a smile on someone else's face. In the long run, I promise, they will think more of you.
If you are one of those people who do not get excited about the holidays, I promise that you're not a grinch. Maybe the holidays bring back some sad memories for you, and it's hard to get excited because every time you do, you are reminded of the thing that is missing. Please take care of yourself. Remind yourself daily that it is okay to not be ecstatic about the upcoming season.
It is also important to remember, though, that the holidays won't always make you sad. At some point, you have to muster up whatever strength you can, and attempt to find some solace in the holidays. I promise that in this season of giving, spending your time giving back to your community will make you feel so much better. This is also important because chances are, the people you are giving to are in need of a little boost of happiness. You can relate to this, which in turn will also make you feel better knowing you were never alone.
If the holidays aren't making you a happy person this year, it's okay. You can't be expected to be happy 100% of the time, and the holidays are no exception. You are not a grinch. You won't feel like this forever. Take care of yourself. Try to participate in safe activities that will elevate your mood, and maybe even the moods of others. If you need to take this season to work on yourself, don't listen to other people when they say that this is the time to always be cheery. No one, not even those people, can be expected to do that. Try to find some joy in this season, but remind yourself that it is okay if you can't.
