Dreading Christmas this year

You have to pretend it is just another day . Give yourself a treat or two to eat and drink but forget it is Christmas day . I hate Christmas because it is full of so many ghosts of happy times long gone so one year we spent the day going through our filing cabinet and shredding lots of documents.

I try to ignore the hype. I have been on my own at Christmas for a few years now. I treat it as a normal day, buying food I fancy and watching TV if there is anything on which is usually debatable.

I have never bothered with decorations, each to his own. I prefer to stay in my cosy house. I would hate sitting at a long table being surrounded with people I have never met and accepting what I would class as charity food by kind helpers.

I have been on a few "JUST YOU" holidays for people on their own. They have ones in the UK which include Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
Mostly older people . Don't be put off by pictures of younger people on their website.

All the hype makes Christmas loom larger than it actually is. It's one day. Plan an enjoyable time and it will be gone in no time.

Cossy

Oh that’s so sad.

Couple of things I’d say;

If you are able to travel and enjoy it and can afford it, then go away.

Or, if your health allows it, volunteer on Christmas Day, local churches and charities welcome people with open arms, to help out.

Try and hold on to those happy memories, it’s great you have them. Prepare yourself all your favourite foods, doesn’t have to be in any way Christmassy, get your favourite tipple and toast all your absent friends and family.

Good luck

A few years ago when I lost my Mum and Sister within 6 months I contacted the Sally Army to offer my services on Christmas Day. They didn't want to know.......
Yes I'm lucky to have happy memories, not everyone does.

CarrotTop

Oh, LesLee, I'm so sorry you're facing such loneliness, especially at Christmas. If I lived nearby, I'd invite you to ours for Christmas! It's always just us - I'm in the same boat as you (no family left, no friends nearby - I do have a DH but he's a shadow of his former self due to brain damage from a stroke) so you have my sympathy.

That's very kind of you. I just don't like to trouble anyone. Hoe you and your DH enjoy as best you can.

BlueBelle

As a lot of us don’t like it for a variety of reasons I think September is way too early to be reminded of it

Perhaps we ought to tell the shops that when Christmas things are in the shops on or before my birthday on 31st August. Far too commercialised now.

Do still attend a place of worship ? I know a lot of places / charities often offer a Christmas lunch for people on their own. But even just attending a service on that day might offer you some comfort.

BlueBelle

As a lot of us don’t like it for a variety of reasons I think September is way too early to be reminded of it

I try to "train myself" to live in the present.

Not always possible but worth a shot.

Lesee that’s an awful lot to cope with. I’m not sure what I would do in your position but I think I would make sure I had foods etc in that I would enjoy, put some decorations up, make sure I had things to do and books to read and put aside some time to spend looking at photos and remembering the happy days. Bittersweet but I think it would work for me.

So sorry, and of course I understand what you are saying. Christmas is a tough time for anyone alone who remembers those who made such a time so memorable.
This is why I am not happy with all the hype at Christmas, it makes it so hard for those who are grieving and alone or cannot afford to celebrate this occasion.
You need to keep occupied on the day and preferably the day before and after, if the weather is ok and you are mobile try going for walks, and if you are aware of any older neighbours on their own, perhaps knock on the door and see if they are ok, they might be in need of a chat or not but is worth a go. Read books, eat well, and as has been said raise a glass to absent loved ones.
I also believe there is a thread on here on Christmas Day if I’m not wrong, I have heard it mentioned, for those on their own.

Christmas means nothing to me anymore
I tend to work Christmas Day…..

BlueBelle

As a lot of us don’t like it for a variety of reasons I think September is way too early to be reminded of it

💕💕👍👍

Oh that’s so sad.

Couple of things I’d say;

If you are able to travel and enjoy it and can afford it, then go away.

Or, if your health allows it, volunteer on Christmas Day, local churches and charities welcome people with open arms, to help out.

Try and hold on to those happy memories, it’s great you have them. Prepare yourself all your favourite foods, doesn’t have to be in any way Christmassy, get your favourite tipple and toast all your absent friends and family.

Good luck

Oh, LesLee, I'm so sorry you're facing such loneliness, especially at Christmas. If I lived nearby, I'd invite you to ours for Christmas! It's always just us - I'm in the same boat as you (no family left, no friends nearby - I do have a DH but he's a shadow of his former self due to brain damage from a stroke) so you have my sympathy.

If you enjoy putting up and having decorations in your home, then why not. You are worth the effort, and they help to light up a dark corner.
We did that for Dad, when Mum died, for that reason.

As a lot of us don’t like it for a variety of reasons I think September is way too early to be reminded of it