"Blue Christmas" is more than an Elvis song. For those who have
experienced loss, the holidays can be so hard to survive, even if you are not a
Christian. Wherever you go, you are surrounded by food of the season,
holiday decorations, by endless carols blaring, by holiday TV specials, by constant reminders that everyone is happy.
Except you.
But, it isn't just you. Truly, more than ever, you are not alone.
Sadly, hundreds of thousands of people are in similar shoes this holiday season. While some people are out purchasing live trees and practice excessive decorating to raise their spirits, there are many who are mourning the deaths of loved ones. Or, dealing with their own illness. Or dealing with the reality of a loved one in a hospital, but unable to visit. Or loved ones in nursing home, unable to be hugged. Some have lost jobs or businesses. Others fear they will lose their business or their jobs. Some are coping with hunger, with having to visit food banks for the first time in their lives.
Some, our first responders, our health care workers, haven't had a day off in weeks or months. They can't remember the last time they embraced their children.
Some people are afraid even to leave their homes. Many are alone.
Some get a sore throat and wonder if they are going to end up in the hospital, or worse.
No, it's a hard time in our history, and we know it is going to get harder. The Blue Christmas services that bring comfort to many of us will be different, but different does not mean "not as good".
So, now what? I'm not a mental health professional and I can't give out any kind of good advice. Perhaps, though, history can be a little comfort to us.
History shows us the way out, if only we will learn its lessons.
And those who have already walked this path can teach us, also.
We can do this. We can get through the hard times that will be coming.
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| LUMA festival, Binghamton, New York, 2019 (cancelled this year) |
It's OK to be blue. But, I will try to remember, one day the flowers will bloom again. One day, we will have festivals again. One day, we will be able to hug our loved ones again.
One day, the Holidays will be merry and bright once again.
...and I image that the carousel at Recreation Park will not be open.
ReplyDeleteIt is al so very sad. In our family we are doing our best to keep things as normal as possible, not easy but it helps.
ReplyDeleteIt's going to be a rough season for a lot of people this year.
ReplyDeletethis will be the first year I try to but up my tree in a long time,the last time was 2002,due to losing my Mom in 2003 I did not feel like putting it up. and when the seizures go so bad I did not want to but this year I'm going to.when I do I'll post it on my wordpress hosted blog.https://mjamesg.com/
ReplyDeleteYesterday I spoke with four friends and asked if they were decorating. Only one was. My house is full of decorations. Today in the store the clerk told me that even though one of her daughters died in June, she was still putting up three trees. She said that without hope and celebration we are doomed.
ReplyDeleteI try to keep in mind that this year will be all sorts of stories we can tell in the future. It may suck now, but once we get past it, we'll be able to look back and laugh. We just need to get through it now.
ReplyDeleteSo well said. Christmas will be more important than ever. WE all need to rejoice like the angels in the sky singing to the shepherds.
ReplyDeleteChocolate is more important than ever. But then, chocolate is always important. Dark chocolate. Lindt's chocolate. My daughter lives in Switzerland, the home of chocolate discoveries. Lots of free samples.
Thank you for the reminders. It's gone on for longer than any of us expected, and we wonder sometimes! I remind myself that the entire world is undergoing the same thing. It's what I tell people who fuss about school kids "falling behind." "Behind" who?
ReplyDelete