Holiday Blues
by
Suzanne Hadley
on Dec 20, 2007 at 1:35 PM
It's that time of year again.
Time to go home for Christmas. Or stick around and make Christmas traditions of your own. Either way, the events surrounding such a wonderful and emotional holiday can create stress. Today, Boundless is featuring an article I wrote two years ago about overcoming holiday blues. I also talked about it for a Focus on the Family TV short.
A few weeks ago, I received an e-mail from Pamela, who wrote:
I just wondered -- this is Christmas 2007 -- how have the situations you described evolved? I just wanted to hug each of you!
Thank you, Pamela. I am very glad to report that since writing that article, each Christmas has been better than the last. An others-focused game plan makes all the difference. It doesn't allow you to feel sorry for yourself. (I also send out a little gift list with appropriate gift ideas instead of expecting family members to read my mind.)
Last year, I spent a lot of time in the days leading up to Christmas cooking, wrapping presents and cleaning the kitchen. This kept me busy, provided quality time with my family members and alleviated household stress. By Christmas Eve, duties were done and we were able to drive to my brother's town in Oregon to attend the Christmas Eve service he'd put together.(Note the picture of me and my nephew Ben taken that night.)
The improvement in my Christmas experiences could be maturity, but I also notice a huge difference when I don't let my time with the Lord slide. That is something I have absolute control over. I wish each of you a Christmas full of joy and laughter -- and most importantly, full of Christ!
1. Becca had the following to say on Dec 20 at 7:53 PM:
Since I've moved away and get to go home for Christmas-to the company of dear friends and family-I'm more worried about the Post-Holiday Blues!
It's always so good to be reunited with the people that know you from 'way back when'...and still love you! Getting the chance to catch up and share new moments of sharing confidences and hilarity; it's the best:)
2. P&P had the following to say on Dec 22 at 8:42 PM:
Another tactic is stay in a local hotel, if your finances permit. It can give you some "alone" time to decompress if tensions run high and it can help your family realize that you're an adult, not 12 years old again.
It's unfortunate, but some families behave better when they realize that they do not have you as part of a captive audience. Even leaving the house once with "I think I'm going back to my hotel so we can all cool off" can be the learning experience people need to change old behaviors.
3. BDB had the following to say on Dec 22 at 9:36 PM:
Re-reading the old article, I realized something. Each year I write up a Christmas newsletter and send it with the Christmas Card to the various households in my extended family. And for the most part, the holiday conversations each year start with family-members asking about those items, which can result in hours of conversation in person, like I had at my father's home tonight. I never thought of that as agenda-setting before, but it does tend to give people something to focus on.