Kristin, the first thing I would ask is, how does it make you feel to be alone on Christmas? Since you're not with family, does it make you want to be with others? Or just have a good day on your own?
I've dealt with this two different ways. One, I went through several years where I had "strays" in -- others who were without family, and we all pitched in for a potluck dinner. Some were single people far from home who worked where I did, and others were friends in the neighborhood. To cook and then to have company makes the hours go by pretty quickly; by the time you get to Christmas evening, you're 90 percent of the way there.
If you're more of an introvert, make it a movie day. Bunches of movies open on Christmas day, and you can (guiltlessly) go from theater to theater and see them all. Or do this at home, heading to Blockbuster a few days ahead of time to pick up all the chick flicks you've missed in the last couple of years.
I think the most important thing to realize is that it should be a day that is appropriate to you. If that's reading and watching television; if that's doing something outside; if that's going through the newspaper and mapping all the sales for the day after, then that's what you should do. If it's cooking like a maniac, playing music (Christmas or otherwise!), or starting a journal for 2009, do that.
If you get invitations, the same rule goes: Accept them if you'd like to, don't accept them if they aren't right for you. There's no one watching you here, there are no rules of etiquette, there are no have-tos. And for all those pesky "So what did you do over Christmas?" inquiries afterward, just have a sublime response: "Opened presents, talked to friends, ate good food. How about you?" that will fit almost all circumstances.
I read about your Thanksgiving -- you did an awesome job of setting a new tradition. If Christmas seems sad or lonely, just realize that it's only one day -- and really, the only part you have to "survive" is early morning to early evening. After that, it's practically the 26th, and then it's on to the New Year. (Denial also works for me, as you can tell, LOL.)
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Kristin, the first thing I would ask is, how does it make you feel to be alone on Christmas? Since you're not with family, does it make you want to be with others? Or just have a good day on your own?
I've dealt with this two different ways. One, I went through several years where I had "strays" in -- others who were without family, and we all pitched in for a potluck dinner. Some were single people far from home who worked where I did, and others were friends in the neighborhood. To cook and then to have company makes the hours go by pretty quickly; by the time you get to Christmas evening, you're 90 percent of the way there.
If you're more of an introvert, make it a movie day. Bunches of movies open on Christmas day, and you can (guiltlessly) go from theater to theater and see them all. Or do this at home, heading to Blockbuster a few days ahead of time to pick up all the chick flicks you've missed in the last couple of years.
I think the most important thing to realize is that it should be a day that is appropriate to you. If that's reading and watching television; if that's doing something outside; if that's going through the newspaper and mapping all the sales for the day after, then that's what you should do. If it's cooking like a maniac, playing music (Christmas or otherwise!), or starting a journal for 2009, do that.
If you get invitations, the same rule goes: Accept them if you'd like to, don't accept them if they aren't right for you. There's no one watching you here, there are no rules of etiquette, there are no have-tos. And for all those pesky "So what did you do over Christmas?" inquiries afterward, just have a sublime response: "Opened presents, talked to friends, ate good food. How about you?" that will fit almost all circumstances.
I read about your Thanksgiving -- you did an awesome job of setting a new tradition. If Christmas seems sad or lonely, just realize that it's only one day -- and really, the only part you have to "survive" is early morning to early evening. After that, it's practically the 26th, and then it's on to the New Year. (Denial also works for me, as you can tell, LOL.)
Take care, and make it a day about you.
December 17, 2008 - 10:48amThis Comment
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