it's the most depressing time of the year

[jahncolumn]

The holidays are hard. You're supposed to go spend your newly free time with your family and loved ones and feel like all is right with the world...because it's Christmas. Why is it that we all find it so hard to be happy during this season? Why is it so easy to find reasons to feel bad? Christmas stories tell us that all we need is family and a nice warm fire, but we take it as we should cover every part of our lives in the silver, shimmery glow of Christmas decorations as well as the shadow of the stack of our perfectly selected presents that reaches straight up to the ceiling. We feel that having some time means we HAVE TO spend it with EVERY person we love. We overload ourselve's and feel depressed when we cannot achieve everything we wanted or when we cannot afford the gifts we chose. Spending time with loved ones is important, but so is sanity. Give somebody a phone call instead of driving for hours to see them. They will probably still appreciate the sentiment and you will in turn not resent them for their part in your level of stress. It's okay to accept your short-comings. Life is not about being perfect; it's about doing what you can.

If you love me...you'll give me a hug for Christmas and nothing more.

Stay sane over the holidays and then come back to me.