Making The Best Of A Bad Situation : Holiday Edition

[Mallaky]

I try to ignore the festivities, pretty much. I am not looking forward to the end of the month, not at all. Gonna be a good test for my sobriety. :wtf:
I plan to just continue pretty normally, and try to not care. Everything about christmas and sylvester is trigger territory. I am gonna treat myself with good food and try to not get out of step. I am pretty proud of my normal days starting to become productive, and will lean on that.
I feel a bit like a sailor, sailing into stormy waters. Pulling hat down and bracing for unstable times.

 

[Panda Bear]

My church prints a list of things we can do to give back, we are asked to choose one or more, and practice them for 12 days.

My kids LOVE choosing and it's fun to help them. They think it's exciting and it helps me to forget how much I hate Christmas.

We tape quarters to candy machines in the grocery store :p

 

[Kailani]

As a nurse in a hospital in the past I had to do my time and work several holidays. People get sick regardless of day. I learned not to get too attached to the particular day and just try to do something I enjoy like a favorite treat or movie night, on what everyone gets all excited about as a holiday! I learned to celebrate on other days. I also learned to focus more on the true meaning behind the day. My funnest holidays alone as a human have been spent with animals. Christmas Eve was my fav day to work taking care of and diving with the Rays, sharks, turtles, Dolphins, penguins, sea lions...I figured Jesus came born into the world humbly into a stable of animals and that's where I want to be on Christmas Eve, with animals. I also have enjoyed other holidays with my dog and cat; special treats or trips out. Living in Hawaii for about 8 years also helped cuz blood family was on mainland and far away. I learned that family isn't always blood and to have a blast with friends that became family. Doing a hobby is fun too; paint, music, also taking care of stuff I've been needing to take care of. It's just another day but people just get excited over it more for some reason.

 

[Changing4Best]

I love bright colors and especially Christmas lights. Also decorating the house. So I have a small tree that I bought this year and a lot of little things I put up around my house to remind me of the real meaning of Christmas. I collect Nativities too. This is because when I was in kindergarten, I received a nativity from someone and my parents made me return it, because they did not believe in the real meaning of Christmas back then. They were atheists then. I am a Christian now that they are dead (although they both accepted Jesus during the final year(s) of their lives), because I love this holiday for its own meaning and how my church celebrates it.

 

[The Albatross]

For several years I have employed a technique that I read in Kami Walker's book 29 Gifts... it is a goal challenge for 29 days. It taught me to scan for opportunities and stay out of my head. I'm doing it again this year already have done 5 days.

 

[desiderata310]

I do something "NORMAL" because 9 times out of 10 I am completely alone on Christmas.
So... I do an all day activity: hiking, cycling, something, ANYTHING that is unrelated to holiday stuff.
I am not decorating this year. No Christmas specials. No holiday music. When I MUST go out I listen to non-holiday music in headphones. The biggest problem is avoiding the music at work. I work in a theater so it's tough right now.
Shopping is done mostly on line or via gift cards.

Anyone want to go hike a tall peak with me? Or go camping this year?

 

[Deleted member 28740]

Dog treats. And yes I would love to hike with you, and camp, dogs included. Thinking of trying to get into the dog training school in Santa Rosa. No means to do so, but heck, trying.

One of my favorite songs is "Ralph to Rose"

Ralph to Rose
(Lou & Peter Berryman, ©2003)

Let me introduce my terrier, Rosie is the little dog's name
Coming from her dog perspective everybody looks the same
You could be a carefree vagabond rambling in your raggedy clothes
You could be the Queen of England, everybody's Ralph to Rose
She goes Ralph Ralph Ralph to everyone
Ralph Ralph Ralph, she goes
You could be Ann or you could be Dan
But everybody's Ralph to Rose

Thinking Rose'd like some company, I brought her home a puppy one night
A large amalgamation called Izzie approximately twice her height
Rose approached the new dog gingerly sniffing at her sizable nose
I introduced the dog as Izzie, but everybody's Ralph to Rose
She goes Ralph Ralph Ralph to Isabel
Ralph Ralph Ralph, she goes
She coulda been Mike, she coulda been Spike
But everybody's Ralph to Rose

Now coincidentally, Isabel has her own vernacular too
And along the lines of Rosie she has a pseudonym for you
Though you be Pierre or Pamela, a Mister or a Miss or a Ms
A neighbor or a bug-eyed Martian, everybody's Ruth to Iz
She goes Ruth Ruth Ruth to everyone
Ruth Ruth Ruth, she goes
You could be Cher or Smokey the Bear
Or you could be a dog named Rose

As around the world I hesitate, wary of the people in charge
When I think of Iz and Rosie they never seem to loom so large
The multibillionaire of industry, the powerful political wiz
Is just another Ralph to Rosie, just another Ruth to Iz
Because Ruth Ruth Ruth goes Isabel
Ralph Ralph, Rose declares
You could be swank and own your own bank
Tell it to a dog who cares

 

[Powder]

I always thought it would be fun to surprise neighbors or friends with anonymous, random gifts and never tell. ;) Truly secret Santa. I'd enjoy hearing someone wonder what the heck happened. I think I may be an odd duck. This has always been a fantasy of mine.

Someone paid off a friend's student loan. She still doesn't know who did it. I love that!

 

[Truthful_Whispers]

If you want to have a decent holiday season, the secret is to stay away from other human beings. The world is packed full of Scrooges.

 

[desiderata310]

Anyone want to go hike a tall peak with me? Or go camping this year?

I wasn't being rhetorical.

 

[Powder]

@desiderata310
I crave a hike about now, too. It's on my bucket list to hike part of the Appalacian trail, probably at the base of the Georgia hills, after taking in some historically beautiful nature sites/state parks. There are some native ruins, rumored to be possible Mayan ruins there in North GA, Kenimer site. There are some lovely lookouts in Vermont. But I don't think I can go that far because I have kids that would be with grandparent babysitter. Some day.

Do you have any dream hikes anyone? Just wondering what people are hoping to do.

 

[Deleted member 28740]

I wasn't being rhetorical.

And be fair desiderata310. What bike race did you just win? GRIN!! Who will be able to keep up with you?