‘Tis the Season.

I met with a friend for coffee the other day. In our busy lives, the occasional times we can squeeze in coffee are a joy for me. I come away a little brighter, a little sparklier.

This time of year being what it is, we naturally got on to the Christmas preparations. I was sad to hear from her, what I’ve bring hearing from so many people and what I’ve been feeling myself.

How is it we care more when someone else is feeling something negative than when we’re feeling it ourselves?

From the post office queue to the school line pick up, the message has been consistent. People love ‘this time of year’ - the decorations, the songs and sometimes even the singing, the festive baking, all the food, the snuggling up front of warm fires drinking hot (occasionally alcoholic) beverages and watching feel good movies under blankets in dimly lit rooms. They love time off work, walks in the crisp countryside, select get togethers with family and friends, and some even like the shopping (go figure), but, there’s always a big ‘but’.

“I enjoy the lead up, I actually enjoy all the crafting with the kids. I love the kids opening their presents in the morning, but then I’m done... I hate the expectations, and the fact you’re supposed to spend time with people you really don’t want to. You can’t just decide not to go. You have to smile and be happy and run around to make sure other people are happy and it’s all just too much and not in the least bit pleasant.”

“...and you’ve spent more money than you’d spend on a months food shopping buying gifts for people, to get back presents you might end up having to sell on eBay to pay for next months shopping. It all just feels a bit ridiculous these days.”

“I miss when Christmas was just one day and you bought someone one gift. Now it’s two weeks long and you’re expected to buy those present mountains that fill your living room.”

Maybe it’s my age. Maybe its my environment. Maybe it’s my selective hearing, but I think it’s about expectations.

The more expectations laid at your door, by others and/or by yourself, the less enjoyable the holiday season is.

Whatever you choose to celebrate, I imagine it’s the same. There is less simple joy in something when it’s accompanied by a bag of expectations.

I have already written about my attempts at a careful Christmas.

https://www.highcroftwriting.com/words/careful-christmas

Now I’m aiming for a simpler Christmas.

If I get a moment I hope you find me:

- Making the decorations,

- Singing all the songs,

- Festive baking,

- Eating all the good food,

- Snuggling up front of warm fires drinking hot beverages, and

- Watching feel good movies under blankets in dimly lit rooms.

- Taking walks in the crisp countryside.

- Spending happy times with loved ones

- Making memories to treasure.

On this cold Saturday, as I’m about to make a coffee, help my daughter write her classmates’ Christmas cards, put on the new CBeebies seasonal show, and drop my head in to some writing that I have a bit of a tight deadline for, I very much wish the same for you.

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If you are struggling with the festive season, please consider whether you would benefit from getting relevant support. https://helplines.org/helplines/

#highcroftwriting #seasonalstress #christmastime