For plenty of people, the Holidays are the most wonderful time of year, as the song suggests. Christmas is a magical time for many of us, especially children, and some of my fondest memories with my parents and my sister include the anticipation of Christmas Eve and the joy of Christmas morning.
As joyful as this time can be for the majority of people, it can simultaneously be some of the most difficult days for others.
Christmas is a bit of a paradox in the sense that while it offers happiness and cheer, it can also present grief and anger. The Holidays are a trying time for all sorts of people, and I thought it would be helpful to draw attention to anyone who is struggling during this time.
For families that have experienced loss, Christmas can be a painful reminder of the absence of someone or something. For many people, this Christmas will be the first they have celebrated without the presence of someone near and dear to their heart.
For families that are broken and damaged, the Holidays can bring forth feelings of anger, sadness, guilt and sorrow.
For individuals who are chronically or terminally ill, Christmas can be a physically and mentally exhausting affair, making it difficult to appear as merry and cheerful for the occasion.
For anyone suffering from mental illness, this time of year can be overwhelming and isolating.
People dealing with eating disorders may have a lot of difficulty being present at large dinners and celebrations, causing them to withdraw and possibly relapse.
I didn’t write this post to be a Scrooge, or to suggest that Christmas can’t be enjoyed and savoured with the people we love. But I do think it is important to be mindful of all sorts of scenarios and situations that may be affecting folks over the holidays, in hopes of encouraging us to be compassionate and understanding.
Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash
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