Bummed out about being alone for the holidays? So what! It’s not the end of the world. Trust me. I’ve spent many holidays alone and survived. True, there were times I felt sorry for myself but it wasn’t the end of the world. In reality, those times were a chance to focus on me.
Speaking of the end of the world, I recently saw the movie This Is The End
Anyway…
Don’t let being alone for the holidays define who you are. It’s just a day or two once a year.
If you’ll be eating Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner alone, it doesn’t mean you’re less of a person and no one cares for you. If I were a betting woman , I’d say there’s a pretty good chance you’re not the only one spending a holiday or two solo.
You’re Not the Only One. Really.
Did you know, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s America’s Families and Living Arrangements: 2012 study, there are 103 million unmarried people in the U.S. 18 years old and older in 2012? Also in that same survey, it found that 62 percent of U.S. residents 18 years and older have never been married and 24 percent were divorced and 14 percent were widowed.
With numbers like that, there are bound to be others spending the festive season alone.
I’ll Probably Be Alone for Christmas
As for me, I opted not to travel to Buffalo for Christmas this year. It makes me a little sad I won’t be spending the holiday with my immediate family but I went up there twice this year, once to surprise my parents over Father’s Day and the other in August. The summer trip was the longest I’ve been home in a long time – a week. Christmas visits are typically a whirlwind and expensive.
I’m sure I’ll be doing something for Christmas and if I don’t, that’s okay. Working in the tourism industry, I’ve worked plenty of Christmases because it was just another workday. And guess what? I survived.
Yeah, I’m not living the life I had envisioned decades ago yet I’m taking what I’m dealt and making changes happen where I can. I’m fortunate to have many bright spots in my life and someday I’ll have the balance I’m seeking.
Still Bummed? Read These Articles.
If you will be alone and don’t want to be alone during the holidays, you have several options as outlined in this helpful article by Patricia Leavy, Ph.D., on the Huffington Post called “Top 10 Tips for Surviving and Thriving Over the Holidays without Relatives or a Partner.”
Another article of interest about being alone during the holidays is this one by Leon Hale in the Houston Chronicle, “Worse Fates than Spending Holidays Alone.”
MealSharing.com Hosting ThanksSharing
There are also social sharing sites where you can enjoy a meal in a family’s home. Whether you’re traveling or staying home for the holidays and want to spend it with others, check out MealSharing.com. It’s been called the “AirBnB of home cooked meals” and connects hosts and guests in more than 450 cities around the world with home cooked meals. For Thanksgiving, the site is coordinating the second annual ThanksSharing to promote togetherness and food for Thanksgiving.
Note: I’m not sure if anything for Christmas will be coordinated but give it a shot and see if anyone is hosting a meal.
Did you know: National Singles Week, the third full week of September, celebrates single life and recognizes singles and their contributions to society?
Additional statistics about the study can be found www.census.gov
Hey! Thanks for stopping by and reading. You rock and the world is lucky to have you.
If you’re still looking for something to make you smile, I hope this video does it.
