It is Christmas, the season to be jolly, but is it so jolly? For many people this year it will most definitely not be. Many people will have lost their loved ones this year, be it family or friends. There are many people, that those they would usually be spending time with over the Christmas festivities, are no longer here to do so. There are people who will feel very alone, and although it can be like this many other years, this year it is brought to the forefront and almost a highlighted reminder, that it is, at its excess this year, more than ever before as we know it.
There are households that are complaining that they cannot be with their families, as in they are saying they cannot be with another household or two, full of extended families. I am baffled how this can be seen as disastrous! There are people that live as a couple and are also complaining that they cannot be with others, be it younger or older members of the family. The point is, even if there are two people who live together and can share a Christmas dinner, hey at least there are two of them, that is to say, there is someone they can share that dinner with on Christmas day. But what about those people who will be spending Christmas on their own, be it because they are elderly, extremely vulnerable, and seeing anyone, or having anyone around them, puts them at high risk. What about those who may have to be alone or with only a partner and no other family, because it may be they are so poorly in health and hanging on to life itself, that they won’t be able to spend Christmas with anyone else.
We see Christmas as a time to be getting together, to eat, drink, have fun, be Merry and exchange gifts, but it feels like many people forget the real meaning of Christmas. We should be celebrating in our hearts, the gift of life itself, actually being alive, and to try and live right as best we can, to be kind and loving towards others, even when some people make it difficult with their clashing or difficult personalities. It’s a time to be forgiving, or at least accepting if struggling with the forgiving aspect. All this is good for one’s own well-being; Holding grudges and bitterness creates anger and can fester within, creating side effects of bad health ailments.
For those spending time alone at Christmas, don’t be sad. Make sure you go all out, for yourself. Make sure you still look nice. Make sure your Christmas dinner is special, to eat what you like. Look at the advantage, on the up side you can watch whatever you like, do what you like, when you like, no time scale to rush and prepare for others, or rush somewhere else.
So take a few pictures and/or FaceTime or whatever you want to do, to share an image and toast with a glass of whatever you are drinking. Capture any images, as later you can have these put together side by side in one framed picture.
For those who cannot be with the ones who are alone and tech savvy, why not take them or ask them to have something special, a drink that they toast whilst on the phone with you, or at a certain time. If you think they are unlikely to cook for themselves on Christmas day, why not get a dinner delivered to them? That phone call or message will be especially important to those who are home alone, vulnerable and cannot be with those they want to be with.
Plan a goal for the future if you can, and aim for a reunion when it will be safe for you do so. If you want to fill a garden in the summer with lights and baubles, dress up like Santa and his elves, who’s to stop you? A little crazy fun is good for you, and it gives you a theme and something to look forward to.
Sprinkle some joy this Christmas.

Love and Sparkles
Samsara x