Welcome to the Home Insemination Kit advice column, where our team of “experts” tackles your questions surrounding life, love, body image, friendships, parenting, and everything else that leaves you feeling confused.
This week: What can you do when you’re struggling to feel festive during the holiday season? What if you’re feeling anything but thankful on Thanksgiving? Have your own queries? We’re here to help!
Dear Home Insemination Kit,
I typically adore the holidays, but this year, I’m really having a hard time getting into the festive spirit. The idea of Christmas shopping feels overwhelming. I dread going into stores, and online shopping lacks the excitement it usually brings. I’m mourning the loss of my favorite traditions, like our neighborhood cookie exchange and Christmas Eve gatherings with family. It’s Thanksgiving week, and I’m having a tough time mustering gratitude. I don’t want to be a Grinch, but it feels like a battle. I want my kids to cherish holiday memories, but I’m uncertain how to make that happen this year.
The struggle is real, my friend. This year has been laden with stress and loss, making it difficult to embrace the holiday spirit. I find myself resonating with your feelings more than I’d like to admit. However, there are ways to navigate this and perhaps even enjoy this holiday season.
My advice comes in two parts. First, allow yourself the space to grieve. Even if you haven’t lost a loved one, we are all experiencing the grief of ambiguous loss. We’ve lost our routines, cherished traditions, and quality time with loved ones. It’s perfectly acceptable to acknowledge these feelings. I’ve realized that trying to suppress grief only amplifies it. So, let those emotions out—whether through tears in the bathroom or by journaling about your feelings this holiday season.
After you’ve processed those emotions, it’s time to shift gears. This might seem contradictory, but once you’ve acknowledged your feelings, it can be helpful to become your own cheerleader. Play some festive music, decorate with extra lights, or buy holiday-scented candles.
If you adjust your perspective slightly, you might discover many things to be grateful for this year—a slower holiday pace that allows for simple joys with your family, the gift of health, and the knowledge that by altering your usual traditions, you’re helping to keep others safe. Good friends are just a call or text away, and they’ll be there in person when things settle down. This unusual year offers us the opportunity to create new traditions, something we might not have had the chance to do amidst the usual holiday chaos.
You might find that a few small changes in perspective can significantly enhance your overall mindset, even if you still feel sadness and mourn the losses of the past year. It’s possible to experience both emotions simultaneously. As my friend Sarah often says, an attitude of gratitude truly can make a difference.
This article was originally published on November 24, 2020.
Looking for more? Check out this post on creating new holiday traditions to keep the festive spirit alive.
For additional insight, you may want to explore this authority on home insemination. It’s also wise to check out this excellent resource on pregnancy and home insemination.
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Summary:
This article provides heartfelt advice for those struggling to feel festive during the holiday season. It emphasizes the importance of acknowledging grief and loss, while also encouraging readers to adopt a positive perspective by finding new ways to celebrate and express gratitude. The piece highlights the potential for creating new traditions and enjoying simple pleasures with loved ones, even amidst challenges.