It's Not Too Early!

Yes…I am one of those people who rolls their eyes when I walk into a store around Halloween and already see Christmas stuff on display.

And yet, no matter whether it’s Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanza or any special holiday, do not wait and set yourself up for feeling sad and alone! Now is the time to be thinking of what part of the holidays are the most meaningful to you and how you would like to celebrate them.

The truth is that the longer we have been gifted with being alive here on this planet, the more likely it is that we’ve gone through some significant changes that affect the holiday season..  

Perhaps your children  have moved some distance away.

Or your kids now have their own families and their holiday traditions may be quite different from how it was when you were in charge.

Or perhaps you are grieving a loss of a spouse, relative or friend.

I have found that, particularly because I now live alone, it is really important to make my own plan  about how I want to spend the holidays,

I grew up in a family where Christmas was over-the-top traditional, just like a Norman Rockwell painting. The tree was always so tall that we had to chop the top off to fit it into the living room. On top of that, my dad was an ordained minister and so there were all the church services and special events and tons of baking and cooking.

What a contrast to today, where I am  living alone with my kitty. My children now have their own holiday traditions.  I no longer have the space to do a giant Christmas dinner for our family but I decided I could instead do something smaller like have my daughters over for a special Christmas tea.

Maybe you don't have the energy to put up a big tree– but you could still put up a little tree.  Or invite someone over to help put up Christmas decorations and make it into a party!

I have a friend who invites other single women over to her house for Christmas breakfast every year

And I confess that I still want to get up on Christmas morning with some presents under the tree. So several years ago, I started  getting myself some small treasures and wrapping them up! 

Sometimes I’ve gone to spend Christmas with one of my daughters who lives out of town and is also without a partner. We have the most marvelous time getting things ready for her three sons.  We also go out of our way to do some celebratory things for ourselves, like going to a special concert or out to dinner at a special restaurant. 

Is there a special part of holiday tradition that is particularly meaningful to you?  How could you honor that in a way that fits today?

Is there a special NEW tradition you’d like to start?

Make a plan to do something special with friends. A cookie exchange?  Getting together to watch a favorite holiday movie?  A potluck supper?

Don’t wait. Now Is the time to play with some ideas and possibilities and start making YOUR holiday plan!