To ask if anyone else is spending Christmas alone?

[warmgingerbread]

I sometimes feel like I'm the only one in the world who spends it alone ... Anyone else?

I have done it a few times. The first time I made a little Christmas dinner just for myself, and that turned out to be a big mistake. I felt sad and lonely eating it on my own. So the other couple of times I have been alone I have deliberately decided to do non-Christmassy things. I've made myself a curry and done all the trimmings for dinner, and I have given myself a craft or reading project to do over the Christmas period so I'm not moping over times past. The most successful Christmas' I have done alone are when I have gone on holiday over Christmas to countries where Christmas isn't celebrated. If you can afford it, I can really recommend it.

There's a small cat shelter fairly near here, and they're always grateful for people to come and 'do' the cats on Christmas Day (clean the pens and put food down, groom etc) because many of their usual helpers are away or otherwise tied-up. I bet there are similar for dog shelters too.

Actually, while most places are close on The Day, most are open again on Boxing Day (with Sales etc)

I think Christmas is a bit like a giant magnifying glass that seems to put all one's loneliess, sadness, missing people, feeling depressed etc and making it ten times worse. (It does that even if one is sitting with other people) It can be a joyful season but it can conversely be sheer hell for quite a large proportion of the population. Add to that the frantic preparations, shopping, spending, deciding who goes to whom and the debt, sheer hard work involved and it isn't all 'he ha hee hee' is it? And it goes on for a fortnight or so in many places.
I do sincerely wish all those alone the strength and patience to 'get through' it somehow and out the other side. And that includes you OP. Thinking of you x

I stopped 'doing' Christmas twenty years ago at the age of 23, following one lousy Christmas too many in the company of certain family members. I admit I still like Greg Lake 's Christmas song and the carols from King's. But that is all and I have never regretted my decision. For years afterwards I tried to kid myself that I didn't dislike Christmas, just that it wasn't for me. Last year I finally admitted to myself, and anyone else who cared to listen, that I actually hate it. Feels good to tell the truth.

I shall be alone this year as per several years previous. Provided I can get the day off on Boxing Day then Christmas Day will be a little more bearable for me.

It is terrible how just one day out of 365 can be such an ordeal for so many people. Merry Christmas !

I actually think the lead up to Christmas is worse than the day itself. If I could go away at the beginning of the month and stay away until it was over I would.