Faking that Christmas spirit

[Hadtochangebutnoideas]

Evening everyone,

I cant’t sleep because this (and lots of other stuff) keeps playing on my mind so thought I’d post here to see if anyone has any words of wisdom.

There’s a pretty big back story, but the headline is to a combination of being single, from a long line of only children and losing both my parents I have no actual ‘blood’
family left. I have a pretty full life so can normally muddle through this ok, but it floors me every Christmas. I was gearing up for a Christmas alone when a really good friend invited me to spend it in Germany with her, her sister (who I do know pretty well) and her family and I spontaneously said yes. Fights are booked (fly Christmas Eve) and I’m incredibly grateful for the invitation. However, the closer it gets the more anxious I am about it.

I’m feeling really down at the moment and I’m worried I’m just going to bring everyone else down, and I really don’t want to do that. I also feel like a complete failure. I’m 30 and have no family and no prospect of meeting someone to create one with. I’m feeling super anxious about life in general and I don’t know how I’m going to cope with being around lots of people, and especially with someone else’s family. There’s going to be quite small children there so I definitely don’t want to kill the mood.

I think it’s probably too late to cancel, unless it’s for a dose of political covid?

Any tips on how to fake feeling Christmassy? Or how to genuinely pull myself out this funk until I fly home on the 27th?

Marking my place to come back with some thoughts 💚

Definitely go. Take some gifts and you'll find the Christmas spirit when you get there. Just remember they want you to be there. Help out where you can, play with the kids and relax. They'll be glad you went and so will you.

Don’t fake it, don’t even try- just honestly go with the flow and there’ll be aspects you’ll find yourself getting excited about. Huge hugs, you have more to offer than you think- you just don’t see/know it x

Go. I always feel anxious before any big social event even though I was happy to accept invitation at the time. I always have a good time once I'm there. Although I can't deny that I haven't dropped out on occasion when the anxiety got too much.

Your friend invited you, she wants you there.
I think that's enough of a Christmas spirit- just go and don't try and fake anything.
Hopefully being surrounded by a loving family, even though not your own, will help your mood.

(and worst case - it's just a few days 😄)