It's The Most Wonderful Time of the Year? Really??

Everywhere we look, the halls are decked.  We walk through department stores and are serenaded with festive music.  Salvation Army bell ringers (refraining from political commentary about why I do not put money in their kettles) are on every corner.  Our mailboxes are full of photos and cards; pictures of other people's families that remind us, perhaps, that we don't have the type of family that our cultural norms and personal expectations would lead us to believe we should.

And we're expected to be in a state of constant cheer, because, 'tis the season, right?  Isn't that what Christmas is all about?  Love and family and having a joyful, grateful heart?

The reality is that Christmas is full of a lot of unrealistic expectations.  The reality is that these expectations can exacerbate feelings of loneliness.  If you have lost family (and I'm using both "lost" and "family" in the loosest sense, as loss and family can both come in a variety of forms) this year or in years past, you can probably resonate with my feelings of ambivalence toward this season.  My 7-year tradition of dancing in the living room on Christmas Eve will not come to pass this year, or ever again.  Sending out an annual update (via holiday letter) seemed so pathetic and ridiculous that I skipped it entirely for 2013.  And the honest truth is that I'm scared of both my small and large family gatherings.  In short: Christmas is something that I'm more looking forward to being done with than looking forward to doing.

If this lack of holiday cheer describes you as well, know that you're not alone, and that it's okay.  And know that you have people to lean on for support.  And know that, despite the hard parts of the season, there are beautiful, wonderful parts as well.  And cookies.  Lots and lots of cookies.

And above all: know that the bars will be open for business the night of December 25th, so join me for a drink if you need one.  :)