(((((Ms. Whip)))))
First of all, I understand. Holidays can be really lonely. But only if you buy into the marketing hype like someone else mentioned. It really helps to just remember that it's a four-day weekend and you get time to do what YOU want. Clean the house, get a pedicure or massage, read a book, treat yourself to a nice meal out, etc. You make this weekend what YOU want it to be.
It might help to get involved in community activities...like signing up to serve dinner for the homeless at Christmas! A lot of people that celebrate the holidays feel that there is something missing...and it helps when you do good things for others not so fortunate, but always remember to pamper yourself as well! You are important too!
I think this is really great advice. Many years ago, Thanksgiving depressed me. But I started helping my church cook on Thanksgiving morning for the homeless. We don't serve them at the church, but we box the Thanksgiving meal (turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, green beans, and all the trimmings) into individual meal boxes and take them to homeless shelters and underpasses. We partner with another church to do the actual delivery and it's AWESOME. Seriously. I started this years ago when I had NOBODY in my life. Today I still do it, even though I have my husband's lovely family as my own. It was interesting to find that they've been doing the same thing all these years and I never knew it. We could have been working side by side and I had no clue.
All that to say that there are people out there that are really down and out. And they could use your encouragement on a holiday like this. Especially if they knew that you are going through the same loneliness. Partner up with a soup kitchen or a local shelter. Help take care of those less fortunate. Seeing what they go through REALLY makes you focus on what you have...not what you don't have.
Blessings,
Andi
