Why Being Single At Christmas Is Not The End Of The World
By Izzy Hodder
Lately, it’s become a trend to have a man on your arm for the Christmas season. Ice skating, Christmas shopping, watching Home Alone *actually* alone is not really something anyone wants to do. They want date nights on Stephen’s Day and their New Years Kiss to be their forever.
Sure, there is something to be said for having a little romance at the most magical time of year but at the end of the day there’s one thing I can promise you:
Your Christmas won’t be any worse if you’re spending it solo.
For one thing, it’s one less present to worry about right?
No I’m joking but in today’s society things like this are being far too hyped up and stressed over.
It’s time we remembered what Christmas really is about, and for everyone that is different.
Christmas isn’t really my thing, I won’t lie. It’s too traditional, somehow too restrictive. Coming from a really mixed family, step brother and half sisters living on the other side of the world, a traditional family Christmas has never been something I fully understood and that’s honestly the way I like it. We are messy and all over the place and my seasons of Christmas are never really the same. Having to spend Christmas, or even worse, worry over Christmas about how your “other half” is doing or how they are spending Christmas is not what you need to be doing while celebrating the happiest season of the year.
If you’re single this Christmas embrace it.
Don’t blush when people ask who your New Years Kiss will be and don’t be embarrassed explaining to your family that, “No mum it will be just me there for dinner AGAIN this year, no don’t worry I’m not sad about it. We can end this call now okay.” Embrace it, love with what you have while you can. There are not many years in your life when you are so free at such a time of the year, so make the most of it. If you’re a family kind of person, why not really get into the spirit of things and go home for a long break. Sometimes we get so caught up in our day to day lives that we forget we actually don’t really know what might be going on in our family’s lives anymore. And Christmas is the perfect time to rekindle that connection that blood holds. Find out their latest fears, loves, secrets. Even the people closest to us are always changing and sometimes with family your mind is still seeing the version of them you knew for so long, or maybe your only allowing them to see a certain version of you. Little habits like this, take this Christmas to break them and open yourself up again. These are the people who have loved you from day one, don’t forget that.
The love you receive on Christmas doesn’t always have to be romantic, this love is permanent, this love is life lasting. This love is just as worthy of your attention.
And if you’re not a family person, or you simply detest the season, don’t stress. It is only as traditional as you make it and when it comes down to it is only another day in the year. Someone once told me, ”Christmas is an ideal, Christmas can be whatever you want it to be.” So if Christmas for you is running away, then do just that. Book a flight, a train, rent a car and take a trip. Experience Christmas in a different culture, a different country, a new place. You don’t always have to follow the well known path, and you can make your own alone.
Take the time and give it to yourself, that is the best Christmas present you could ever receive.
So as we quickly approach the so called “cuffing” season, pride yourself in being single. Relish in your untainted independence.
Reminisce on the last 12 months and prepare yourself for 2017. Who knows what is coming around the corner. That’s the most exciting part.