The holiday season is marching on. How has it been for you so far? While I hope it has been wonderful, I also know that life is hard, and many people are coping with difficult things. My final thought for this holiday season is: “You are allowed to enjoy the holidays even if your life is imperfect.”
What do I mean by this? The holidays are not an “all or nothing” experience.
Yes, there will be years when the stars align, everyone is healthy and happy, we have plenty of money, we are with people we love and who love us, etc. However, in most years, at least something won’t be quite as we would like it. For instance, we may be…
- Longing for a romantic relationship
- Worrying about someone who is ill
- Struggling to pay the bills
- Missing loved ones who live far away
- Having a hard time finding a job
- Recovering from an accident
- Losing our mobility and/or independence
- Losing hope about becoming a parent
- Battling mental illness
The list can go on and on. Few people can say that everything is “perfect.”
However – joyfully – in the midst of our difficulties, the holiday season arrives! It shouldn’t go without noticing that the very holidays which many of us are celebrating also occurred in imperfect circumstances. War, poverty, social estrangement, and oppression are a part of the holiday stories, as are surprises and blessings. The holidays invite us all to turn our eyes away from whatever darkness we are facing and be refreshed by smiling faces, lovely scents, delicious treats, twinkling lights, uplifting music, and nostalgic scenes.
Allowing yourself to be happy – even, and perhaps especially, when there are very heavy things going on your life – does not mean you don’t care about your problems. Quite the contrary. Allowing yourself to be happy is a wonderful way to equip yourself to rally in the days ahead.
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Whatever is going on in your life right now, I hope you are able to experience joy and peace this holiday season. You deserve it.
Happy Holidays!
This is a beautiful message at a time of year when there can be such stark contrasts. No life is perfect, and some years or seasons are more challenging than others. But in the darkness, we can always find light. Thank you for shining your words of encouragement on us, dear Seana.
I wish you all the best of love and joy during the holidays. It was wonderful seeing you this week- a treasured moment.
A treasured moment, indeed! What a fun day we had. 🙂
We should never feel guilty about being joyful, even if we aren’t completely content with the way things are in our life. Soak up every happy moment, right?
May the remaining days of 2023 be great ones for you, Linda!
Thank you for this reminder. While things are not perfect here, we are blessed and look forward to this season.
I’ve come to realize that Christmas means more to me in my rougher seasons. Wishing you a Merry Christmas indeed!
Many sad, discouraging, and difficult moments are being experienced through this time. Being grateful for the tiniest moment of joy is important and carries us through. That joy can come from nature, pets, or moments with someone special. Added up, these moments give us hope. Thank you for sharing this message at this time when there seems to be more sadness than at other times.
This definitely is a rough year. It’s tough to be happy. But the joy of the season is so important, and it gives us energy and hope for the future. Merry, Merry, Christmas Ellen!
A truly welcome message, indeed. You are quite right. Nothing is ever as perfect as we think it could be. Stopping in the midst of a tough time to celebrate a holiday is a beautiful way to recharge your spirit.
Merry Christmas!
I look forward to another year of sharing and exchanging thoughts with you!
I look forward to that as well, Diane. Merry, merry Christmas!
This is resonating with me this year. We have been dealing with a stubborn cool in our home, and it has stopped some of our plans this year. Thank you for the reminder that we can still have a lovely holiday season. Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Each season is unique, and maybe we don’t get to “everything” in any given year. But there can still be wonderful moments, and that is enough!
This is a stellar lesson and people can extrapolate it to other things. You can still have a beautiful wedding day even if it’s not perfect, for example. There’s so much bound up in having everything be right, which is almost impossible. This reminder is a great, and gentle, reality check.
Find the sparkle!
Perfectionism usually undercuts joy, right? Also, sometimes we feel guilty about enjoying an experience because we are so busy worrying about what isn’t right. That’s just silly – sort of the worst of both worlds. Enjoy the good, cope with the difficult. We all need a little joy in our lives, regardless of circumstances. Go find the sparkle – love that!
You are absolutely right. I always think that, no matter what’s going on in someone’s life, they can find a way to enjoy the holiday and be thankful.
Great message, thanks Seana.
This is my hope for everyone this season!
I think I’ve been surprised in recent years (especially since COVID) to learn that, yes, people get sick during the holiday season. It’s not quite as magical as I believed as a child. So we have been distracted this season with viruses and puppies.. bad and good things.
I’ve been enjoying it more in the present, though! I really have!
I remember years when everyone was sick. We had a lot of illness. I also remember feeling like suddenly everyone’s magic was dependent upon me. It’s a weight. That’s why it is important to find something to enjoy for yourself. Hoping everyone clears their illnesses and you can have a fun, healthy day together!