Spending Christmas Alone

Christmas is usually a time of family get-togethers, seeing friends, and enjoying that camaraderie of the season. Traditionally, most families even dedicate a portion of the festivities to hear stories from the older members of the family, about their childhood and what Christmas was like "back in the old days." So many of us though, spend this time alone, and with good reasons.

What about those of us who tend to spend this day alone? There is a segment of society that doesn't participate in Christmas. This alone can make us a pariah amongst polite society. We tend to experience all manner of harassment and insults from those who claim "their savior," and his birthday, as "the reason for the season."

Regardless of any attempts at an explanation, the insults and harassment will continue. The loneliness will be there when the very people who call us what they will, think to not even call, and when the only companion is Facebook. There's good news though. It doesn't have to hurt us anymore.

Christmas celebrants and their insults about being alone

This is the easiest part to handle. This is, in fact, what makes being alone preferable. What other subject would we accept this form of harassment over? How many times will we let another insult us for something like a political statement? Not many, that's for sure. So why should Christmas alone be any different?

Simple disassociation with those who would attack what they do not understand will suffice. Let folks know, in a crystal-clear fashion, if they don't accept you, just as you are an with every imagined "flaw," then you'd certainly not want to continue disappointing them. Lose them. Leave them alone.

Christmas alone and food

To many of us, this is the only really good part of Christmas. But food is food and the body needs nutrition whether it's an oven baked turkey, Aunt Kathy's pumpkin pie, or a chicken burrito from the local convenience store. Keeping your blood sugar levels is important even though others don't want a minute with you for not worshipping their plastic gods.

Christmas and loneliness

This point is, perhaps, the most difficult part for most of us. Just because we won't go doesn't mean an invite would insult us. It seems though, that the whole idea behind not giving an invite, is to make the statement: "If you're not like us we don't accept you." Fine.

All too often, the preachers, and the guilt-ridden followers of this "Jesus" run around all year telling folks like us that, "it's all about love and faith and blahblahblah," only to turn around and treat us like a disease on that day.

It is crucial to remember that most words said by such as these are simply "lip-service" anyway. They might have the words memorized...but the principles behind them are lost.

How to handle this loneliness part

You're not the only one of your kind. Before the Christmas holiday falls, like it will every year, seek out others of like mind who are usually alone. You'd be amazed at the number of "societal misfits" around you. Extend an invite (through the offices) to any stranded college students spending the holiday alone. Meet a couple of disgruntled convenience store workers scheduled for that day and offer them an invitation to an after-work party instead of being alone (Make sure they know it's a community thing and not a creepy offer). Hotels and motels in town always have a traveler or two spending that day alone.

This is outside of the "comfort-zone" of most people, true, but people like us always are. Christmas doesn't have to be "Christmas-y" to be enjoyed by those of us who'd be otherwise neglected, hurt, and alone. Let's show 'em how to throw a Christmas party! There are just too many of us alone at Christmas to not have a good time!

Sources:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15638268/

http://www.asdfing.com/christmas-alone/

http://www.christmas-corner.com/alone.php