Christmas has always been my favorite holiday. From the gifts to the joy to the amazing food, what’s not to love?
As I have grown older, though, the meaning of Christmas has changed for me. Somehow, I see the new Christmas as being even better than the Christmas that I used to know.
I have always lived a fortunate life. I have always had a family who has always been there to support me, who has given me far more than what I need to survive, and who has given me every opportunity that I could have ever imagined to have the best life.
This has always been especially true during the holiday time. I can look back and say that I had some pretty amazing Christmases growing up. We used to travel a lot for Christmas, and no matter where we were off to, the gifts and Santa would always follow. I would be sure to get to bed early just so that I was the first one up and the first one to the gifts.
But as I have grown up, and as I have been able to watch my niece share that same joy, I have realized how much the meaning of Christmas has changed for me.
No longer is Christmas about receiving gifts. No longer is Christmas about waiting for Santa to come down the chimney. No longer is Christmas about being able to go show off all of my cool new toys to my friends.
Christmas is actually about reflecting on all that you are grateful for. It’s about being around loved ones, spreading joy to as many lives as you possibly can, and above all else, it’s about celebrating the birth and life of Jesus.
At least these are my views.
But for some, the holidays aren’t always so easy. There are many individuals out there who struggle during the holiday season. They may have lost a loved one recently. They may have little in life that is going right for them. They may just feel lost and don’t know which direction to head in. Surviving the holidays can seem like a monstrous task.
If you are somebody who feels lost during the holiday season, I want to share with you some tips that may just help you. Granted I have always lived a fortunate life, there have also been many times in my life where I have felt lost and never knew what the purpose of my life was. Here are some of the things that I did to help me overcome the feeling of loneliness.
1. Write down your thoughts.
I am an advocate of writing down your emotions on a daily basis. It does no good to keep those emotions bottled up inside. Find your voice and release your feelings. The more you try to hide them, the more they will only eat at you.
Any time that you are feeling lost, grab a piece of paper or a notebook, open it up, and just write from your heart. Whatever you are feeling, just write it.
2. Use this time to relax.
Have you ever noticed how much better you feel after a few days of r&r? Use these few days off to rest and relax. Not only does your body need a rest from all of the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, but so too does your mind.
Stay in bed for these next few days and sleep as much as you can. Throw on some pajamas and never leave your couch. Grab a few books and just indulge. Enjoy your favorite food. Whatever it may be, just relax.
3. Get out and be around others.
If you are somebody who struggles to relax (like me), go out in public so that you are around other people. Sometimes even people watching can help you to feel a little less lonely and lost.
Drive to the nearest mall, go see a good movie, just do something where you are around other people.
4. Give back to those who are less fortunate.
There are very few things that can help you to feel better than to give back to those who are less fortunate than you are. If you are feeling lost, this will also help to put into perspective just how much there is to be grateful for in your life.
I understand that the holidays can be hard, and as difficult as it may be to focus on the positives, just remember that there is somebody out there who has it worse.
5. Connect with loved ones.
Maybe the root of your loneliness is the fact that you are currently states or countries away from friends or family. If this is the case, give your family and friends a call or FaceTime them. Connect with them, share a few laughs, and just let them know how much you love them and are grateful to have them in your life.
Final Thoughts
No matter how you are feeling, please know that you are never alone. There are always going to be people who care about, there are always going to be people who love you, and there are always going to be people that want nothing but the best for you. Sometimes, you just need to be willing to reach out and let them help guide you.
Michael Bonnell
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