Call it a feeling of nostalgia, if you like. Holiday times are naturally tough, for people who a few years back had no expenses to worry about directly. As much as we all enjoy celebrations, it could also be a huge cause for anxiety. Not to mention the granted expectations that abound at the roots of holiday provisions, for yourself and dear ones. Keeping your head up as this fleeting time is expedient for your well being. It’s just a moment, as Cammie McGovern says — “This feeling will pass. The fear is real but the danger is not.”
This adult life wasn’t explained properly to anyone and this, is the reality of many. It was just a close of eyes from when I was just 8. Now, I’m in my 2nd decade and half gone, with a lot of things not to look forward to, from my elders, as an adult that I am. Awww. But, for sanity’s sake, “I never look back, darling. It distracts from the now.”- Edna Mode, ‘The Incredibles’.
Our minds always tend to stretch during this period. Pressures, maybe, could be pointed as a causal factor, or not. Sincerely the pressures are what we’ve grown into and adapted as a way to holi-day, and this is truly not fair on us and our subconscious minds. Blame’s on the whole concept of Christmas.
Christmas, has with time, being a moment of genuine test of the “acts of love”. Truthfully, one wouldn’t have truly loved without all the conscious ceremonies attached to proving the act. Giving, gifting, serving, spending quality time and spreading affection via words and actions. In fact, think of this season as the season of love.
The Real “Blues”
Loving could be overwhelming; truth be told. It rips you off your own self and desires and links your heart, perpetually towards making others happy. Even though, in the real sense, it brings you fulfilment to know that you care about others in both words and actions, it also takes a toll on you – the harbinger of great tidings. Hahaha!
It is this subtly overwhelming moment that gives people the feeling of inordinate sadness and awakens the desire to experience childhood; where we are loved easily and not the other way round.
To help you out of the shadows of this metaphoric “helplessness”, you could adhere to a couple of things —
Stay with yourself.
Do not get lost, trying to look out for others. The world is too wild. Not showing your self the much needed affection by yourself, as an adult which you now are, is only the beginning of many continuous episodes of both restlessness and nostalgia.
Get behind the childhood feeling.
Move on. There’s nothing fulfilling in the past. If not, you wouldn’t be so keen to grow up, like you did. The Christmas holidays are a time of reflections and reminiscences, no doubt. But, dwelling deeply on the gains of past times would only leave you hungry and until you feed your self with the needed time and presence, the “blues” will continuously happen.
Surprises are just okay.
It’s definitely okay to let surprises be a part of your existence. Life happens to everyone, every minute — the good, the bad and the ugly. It’s also a human thing to dwell on those surprises and ask why. That’s fair enough. I mean, no one wakes up in a day and asks that the universe pulls a happenstance on them. It’s just wise to know that these surprises are okay, as long as there is hope to scale through them. One minute is abundance, the other minute could be temporary brokeness. There could be complete presence, in all its forms, at a point and a huge void at another. Life happens and it’s just okay.
Live Through The Moment.
This has got to be the hardest advice, ever. Nevertheless, it’s as simple to practice as pronouncing its words. Live.through.the.moment! Be kind to yourself and allow some fresh air when it gets somewhat overwhelming. Beyond the holidays, is a life to move on to, and create exploits with. Live. By Jove, live. Nothing has been declared more important. Mindfulness is a tact for those who’d enjoy life to the fullest. Consciously keeping track of your routines is no mirage. It’s practicable and as such, attainable.
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I do not want to think the holiday blues as SAD – seasonal affective disorder. As much as the symptoms are truly related, making a reference to a mental issue wouldn’t do justice to the mere feeling. I like to think of the “holiday blues” as a human feeling, which is usually a part of life and can be surmounted with conscious efforts. Of course, if there’s a conviction within a person that “everything comes and goes and so will this moment, no matter what”, there would’ve been a great step towards setting the pace for happiness at ALL times.
Nothing can be as depressing as thinking you’re not doing too much for yourself especially at this time when expenses stare directly and unapologetically at your face. Something can be done about it, anyway.
Live. Be grateful for the many times you’ve loved yourself and the many times you will, still. Losing sight of the love you should give by getting lost in the wild of celebrations could be killing. Allowing such inappropriateness would be detrimental as you need all the love you can get, by yourself and for yourself in order to keep moving. Holidays do not end, its blues do not either and so does your love, if you will. You only need to keep them all at par. Energy for energy.❤️
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