I suffer a tad from seasonal depression. This is especially true in years like this one where the cold came early and the dark seems more profound because of the cold. Fortunately, my depression from this is mild. I am aware of my crabbiness and willingness to be self critical this time of year.
I was recently with a group of women who were scoffing at the seasonal decorations and professing that they might not put up trees, would not host holiday gatherings. I felt a little sadder to hear those opinions because seasonal decorations and hosting holiday gatherings are the parts I look forward to the most. I started to reflect on the hurry and rush and requirements of the holidays.
It seems to me that seasonal celebrations can help me through the dark cold days of winter. Songs, pretty ornaments, gathering with friends and family are all things that can bring cheer to the downhearted. Besides the obviously faith filled reason, the true source of all joy, the celebrations help all of us get through the winter. I imagine it is one reason why Jesus came when He did.
I think the key is to de-stress the celebrations as much as possible. For me that means doing the things I enjoy and doing as little as possible of the things I don't enjoy. I like crafts, so I did some of those this year. I like to shop a little, but I hate ordering from the Amazon wish list. So, I shopped a little and nobody is getting anything from their list. Sorry. If I host a gathering, I have learned to stream line and not make every dish imaginable. This year I think I will make only one kind of cookie and it won't be the same one my daughter-in-law always makes. I already put up the tree and decorated the mantle. I think I am done decorating.
The stress brought on by the people is something else. I think I am finally learning to listen and not have an opinion about everything, or even anything. I am planning some activities to do when we get together, like looking at photos or playing a game. Planning ahead is key for that.
For me, the most important thing of all is not to expect perfection, not to expect that the holidays will bring happiness to an otherwise stressed or unhappy life. Christmas will be on a Tuesday. My goal is to have a good Tuesday, and not to expect it to be the very best Tuesday of the whole year. And I like to pray and make it spiritual and holy. Sometimes that stresses me out, that I ran to Mass and all the while my mind was occupied by starting the turkey or some other trivia. And this is what I have decided this year, and I am writing it down so that I remember, if Christmas is too hectic to give me the sacred moments I crave, then, I can find those times later it the week, during the Christmas season, because Christmas is a season, not just a day. I intend this year, this cold dark year, to use the celebrations of the holidays to help me through the seasonal depression rather than add to it. I think if I can keep my expectations in check and really celebrate, then this might just be the best Christmas ever for me.
I was recently with a group of women who were scoffing at the seasonal decorations and professing that they might not put up trees, would not host holiday gatherings. I felt a little sadder to hear those opinions because seasonal decorations and hosting holiday gatherings are the parts I look forward to the most. I started to reflect on the hurry and rush and requirements of the holidays.
It seems to me that seasonal celebrations can help me through the dark cold days of winter. Songs, pretty ornaments, gathering with friends and family are all things that can bring cheer to the downhearted. Besides the obviously faith filled reason, the true source of all joy, the celebrations help all of us get through the winter. I imagine it is one reason why Jesus came when He did.
I think the key is to de-stress the celebrations as much as possible. For me that means doing the things I enjoy and doing as little as possible of the things I don't enjoy. I like crafts, so I did some of those this year. I like to shop a little, but I hate ordering from the Amazon wish list. So, I shopped a little and nobody is getting anything from their list. Sorry. If I host a gathering, I have learned to stream line and not make every dish imaginable. This year I think I will make only one kind of cookie and it won't be the same one my daughter-in-law always makes. I already put up the tree and decorated the mantle. I think I am done decorating.
The stress brought on by the people is something else. I think I am finally learning to listen and not have an opinion about everything, or even anything. I am planning some activities to do when we get together, like looking at photos or playing a game. Planning ahead is key for that.
For me, the most important thing of all is not to expect perfection, not to expect that the holidays will bring happiness to an otherwise stressed or unhappy life. Christmas will be on a Tuesday. My goal is to have a good Tuesday, and not to expect it to be the very best Tuesday of the whole year. And I like to pray and make it spiritual and holy. Sometimes that stresses me out, that I ran to Mass and all the while my mind was occupied by starting the turkey or some other trivia. And this is what I have decided this year, and I am writing it down so that I remember, if Christmas is too hectic to give me the sacred moments I crave, then, I can find those times later it the week, during the Christmas season, because Christmas is a season, not just a day. I intend this year, this cold dark year, to use the celebrations of the holidays to help me through the seasonal depression rather than add to it. I think if I can keep my expectations in check and really celebrate, then this might just be the best Christmas ever for me.