Happy, Sad, or Blah for the Holidays?
We're well into December, which means the winter holidays are here. Some may have a religious tone, while others are pure merriment. Businesses often have a year end party or dinner, as do many civic clubs and hobby-related groups. And then there's actual friends and relatives. Christmas music bombards us almost anyplace we go, and stores are in their frantic sell!-sell!-sell! season.
Some people love all of this. Some hate it. And others become depressed, sad, or even suicidal. Gregarious people plan for months to get together with their family and favorite friends. Others do their best to avoid holiday gatherings. December brings up lovely memories for some and dreadful angst for others. Certain people go manic in December: over-spending, over-eating, over-drinking, and over-celebrating.
For me, I like the fantasy aspect of the whole thing. I enjoy both the religious fairy tales and the secular ones, but don't believe any of them. I like the lights and the glitter. I'm glad for the chance to see good friends -- and I tend to eat too much. I like seeing other people's customs, especially those from anther country or culture. I don't even mind the corporate parties, up to a point. I guess I rather enjoy the idea that we've all decided to party for a month. On the other hand, I'm not into big spending, frantic shopping, and extensive gift giving. In fact, I'd be happy to skip the gift part altogether.
Topic for the Week: What's your take on the winter holiday season? Do you love it? Hate it? Don't care much either way? Get morbidly depressed? What parts, if any, are fun for you? What would you get rid of? Do you attend a lot of parties? Give a lot of gifts? Spend/drink/eat too much? What is the one thing you would absolutely keep? And the one thing you would totally drop, if you could?
Some people love all of this. Some hate it. And others become depressed, sad, or even suicidal. Gregarious people plan for months to get together with their family and favorite friends. Others do their best to avoid holiday gatherings. December brings up lovely memories for some and dreadful angst for others. Certain people go manic in December: over-spending, over-eating, over-drinking, and over-celebrating.
For me, I like the fantasy aspect of the whole thing. I enjoy both the religious fairy tales and the secular ones, but don't believe any of them. I like the lights and the glitter. I'm glad for the chance to see good friends -- and I tend to eat too much. I like seeing other people's customs, especially those from anther country or culture. I don't even mind the corporate parties, up to a point. I guess I rather enjoy the idea that we've all decided to party for a month. On the other hand, I'm not into big spending, frantic shopping, and extensive gift giving. In fact, I'd be happy to skip the gift part altogether.
Topic for the Week: What's your take on the winter holiday season? Do you love it? Hate it? Don't care much either way? Get morbidly depressed? What parts, if any, are fun for you? What would you get rid of? Do you attend a lot of parties? Give a lot of gifts? Spend/drink/eat too much? What is the one thing you would absolutely keep? And the one thing you would totally drop, if you could?