Sometimes people get so caught up in the excitement of the holidays that we forget those who may not look at the holidays as a time of joy and warmth. Dislike for the holidays falls on an enormous scale. You could just be annoyed by all of the traffic and hustle and bustle happening all over the place. You could be in a bit of a pickle financially, making you feel like less of a person when there’s so much that people deserve and you can’t give it to them.

Sometimes family stress can dampen a bit of holiday spirit, and on the other hand there are those who wish there was more family to share this time with. Unfortunate loss or tragic events aren’t immune to the holiday season and sometimes feelings of past years’ events can make being around all of this light and cheer especially difficult for those who feel a bit dim or depressed by loss. As a personal reflection, here is a poem that has aspects of each angle during this sometimes confusing yet prominent part of each year:

The lights hung high
By my side bright green
Pine, cider, warmth
The love floods deep
Some love has faded.
Last years joy a dream
Tension stronger than belief
Love melts
But remember this
My heart beats for you.
For you I would give the world
But this year only my soul.
Look up
Look out
The snow still falls
Day will break
Holiday spirits come
They will also go
Time passes
So melts the snow.
Hold your fire high
This too shall pass
Moments this year
Don’t have to feel like the last
Love is strong
Real gifts, the hearts surrounding
Love, light
Find it here
Be here
Trust here