Hauskaa Joulua/Merry Christmas

As we Finns say...Hauskaa Joulua ja onnellista uutta vuotta!

Translation... Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Thoughts for the holiday...

It is important to remember that not everyone is looking forward to Christmas. Some people will not be surrounded by large, loving, wonderful families and supportive friends. Many of us have problems during the holidays and are overcome with great sadness when we remember the loved ones who are no longer with us. For many, it is their first Christmas without a particular loved one, many others lost loved ones at Christmas time. And, many people have no one to spend these times with at all and are besieged by loneliness. We all need caring, loving thoughts right now. Give a few moments of support to all those who are lonely, grieving, have family problems, health struggles, job issues, money worries or challenges of any kind and just need to know someone cares. Nobody is immune. Let's all make an effort to show one another extra love, understanding, gentleness and kindness.

~Author Unknown

I'm one who is struggling to "have Christmas spirit" this year. Two blissful weeks of no KP. Today, I almost quit. My paternal grandfather passed away at Christmas, which has always left me a little sad. I especially miss my Mom this time of year. She made this such a special time: making the house so festive, baking cookies for weeks, delivering care packages to friends and neighbors, inviting those who had no one and nowhere to go to be part of our family (and always had thoughtful little gifts for them). My heart still aches, missing her. And this Christmas brings the loss of my stepmom. As happy as I am to have Dad home for Christmas... not like this. The best gift I can give Dad is my love and time and keep the tears locked in a vault, like a good stoic Finn.

May you know love, peace, and joy this holiday. Thank you for being my other family. If anyone needs someone to "listen", feel free to shoot me a PM. I'll be lurking.

Aniki

Aniki-Moderator's blog

Comments

Sometimes it needs to be said

Sometimes it needs to be said... unfortunately. I am lucky that I am working throughout the holidays, some long hours. I'd rather be with clients giving them a nice Christmas than with my own family who I simply do not feel close to anymore. My partner is home with me during my off hours and he is also perfectly fine with being here, alone, sans family. We are lovable grinches, haha. Only worry is the major snowstorm happening and travelling into work this weekend ... ugh.

Wishing you all that you all want - whether that be being alone, on one extreme, to being part of may wanted festivities, on the other. Please do not forget to gift yourself something nice like time alone away from the chaos to decompress and re-energize so that you can be successful in all that you want to do in the next year. I hope that many of you make big life changes for the positive! We will be rooting you on!

DPW, like you, I no longer

DPW, like you, I no longer feel close to my family (with the exception of my Dad). There has been change with both them and me, but mostly with me. My give-a-crap meter for them walked out one day and hasn't been seen since. I've had good AND bad relationships with all of my siblings, but things have happened over the years... let's just say that the baby sister will no longer tolerate the "just joking put downs, be treating like a teen too stupid to know what I'm doing, and so on. I'm tired. So bloody tired.

Having lost my stepmom, Dad has decided to move back here permanently. That makes me both happy and sad. Happy he's here to stay, but sad he's alone again.

DH and I have too much going on this weekend. He works next weekend, so I'm taking Dad as my date to our good friends' annual NYE party. I plan to take a YUGE step back from in-person human interaction after that.

"Blue Christmas"

Altho I'm not religious, I've always admired those churches who conduct "Blue Christmas" services for the many people who grieve at holiday time. It is such a difficult time of the year with all the focus on "happy family" (a contradiction) and all the commercialization showing perfect, excited families in beautiful homes.

All you can do is count the hours til December 26 when we all feel instant relief and take the best mental, emotional and physical care of your dear self. We all treasure your humor and stability, Anki.

JRI, I'm actually counting

JRI, I'm actually counting the hours until January 1 and plan to take a much-needed break. I have some memory bears to make, which will keep me busy.

It's funny you should say that about treasuring my humor and stability (and you saying that means so much! *give_rose* )... I recently learned that someone (now gone) said I was "desperate for attention" because I once posted a lot of OT blogs. This from a sycophant who frequently sent me loooooong PMs to discuss life and those "humorous" blogs. I've said it before and say again... laughter is the best medicine. Step life is no picnic and finding a little humor and fun in each day definitely can help take the focus off of the negative, if only for a short time.

Ha more like jealous of you.

Ha more like jealous of you. What a silly cow.

Hmmm... you may be right.

Hmmm... you may be right. *unknw*

you? desperate for attention

you? desperate for attention? THAT is hilarious, aniki.

I no longer enjoy the holidays, but this year was just the worst in a long time....Thing1 and his wife were stuck in Indiana, due to the weather, and Thing2 couldn't get in from Virginia for the same reason. I celebrated with my daughter, son-in-law and the grands (that was GREAT) along with my mom and my niece. BabyVoice and KarateKid were invited to come along with us (they were both at our home for the entire week) but they declined. THEN they had the nerve to tell DH that they didn't "feel included."

I feel a blog coming on LOL