holidays not so blue

The holidays are over.... finally. The big build up, the expectations, the family. All of it that seems to wind up tighter and tighter from the day before thanksgiving till the big breath of relief that comes with new years day. The holidays do not seem to be much of a break for people. The rushing around going from place to place. Time going faster as expectations get higher. Its a time when people feel more lonely or more vulnerable. But why?

I can't exactly put my finger on it. Perhaps its the different dynamics of people meshing that normally do not mesh except during that one time of year. Perhaps there is the tension of being around these people that you would not normally be around. Yes they are your family and you're expected to love them, but that doesn't mean you have to like them. There is the pressure to be on your best behavior when sometimes  you just want to tell the person to go fuck themselves. There are the inane questions, the stepping into your life when you normally would not have that person within a 1000 feet of your life. Its the stress of enjoying a person, whilst avoiding another. Don't get me started on the comments on appearance or lifestyle. The well meaning/intentioned comments, that are clearly not well thought out.

The holidays are about expectations, of yourself and from others. Yeah, not much of a break.

I think there should be a vacation time, in January post Christmas holiday, where the whole idea is to spend time with the ones you want to spend time with, not the ones your expected to spend time with. A day, a long weekend put it on a Friday or a Monday, and its 3 days of post holiday decompressing.


I spent the holidays alone. I chose to this year, it was the most liberating and freeing time I've ever spent for the holidays I have ever had as an adult. Or since I came to realize that the holidays were actually a very stressful time for people. I highly recommend spending at least one Christmas season either alone or away with a friend. Its the best.