Is it just me, or the older we get, the less we see joy and the more we see stress in the holiday season?
I am guilty of this myself:  I yearn for the magical feeling of the holidays again. I think that we lose that joy because we lose the meaning of the holidays. As we journey into adulthood, it’s thrown around more to have the perfect holiday décor, the perfect meal, a variety of flawless wrapped presents under a tree. It’s adult peer pressure and social media bullying at its finest.
For me that happiness and festive feeling comes from the company that surrounds us. Those long hugs and kisses on the cheek that mean just a bit more around this time. I have recently lost my Mother and this will be my first Christmas without her worldly body present…and it stings. However, I am trying to incorporate a new tradition that allows her spirit to be present and to be felt. I am not sure what that will be yet and I am ok with it taking some time.
The way the snow looks like an angel spilled glitter all over the ground as it comfortably lays on the grass. The feeling of warmth and coziness when everyone is on the couch wrapped up like tiny tacos watching a movie that represents the same mystical feelings. Â The Grinch totally nailed it when he spoke these words “Maybe Christmas doesn’t come from a store, maybe Christmas perhaps means a little bit more.”
When and if you find yourself struggling over the next couple weeks, pause to find that moment, that feeling, that spark that brings joy back to you. Maybe it’s a good memory. Maybe it’s the power of starting a new tradition to replace something that is lost this year. If you’re still struggling, remember you’re not alone. There’s a friend, a family member, or someone at Spectrum Health that’s standing by to help you find your joy again.
Christin Estrada
Sr. Outreach and Engagement Specialist
