Alone for the Holiday what does it mean to you?

[Tiny]

What does being alone for the Holidays mean to you?

Would you describe your holidays as being alone - if you didn't have anything planned for Christmas day - but had several parties the weekend before and then a big event on Christmas eve - dinner and then Midnight Mass with family/friends? and then some more stuff with other people during the week after Christmas and plans for New Year's Day? Ok, no New Year's Eve plans... I know people find that depressing. But, would you consider this as having spent the Holidays alone? Would this make you feel sad and unhappy?

I always kinda assumed it meant that you literally had no one to do holiday stuff with for like the Month of December and then into New Years Day. Maybe i need to revise my definition...

I'm an introvert - so in that busy of a schedule that I described I'd be super thankful for a few 'quiet' days... but still, don't extroverts get tired??

[simser]

I considered myself alone for Easter because I didn't have anyone to go to mass or eat dinner with (I'm catholic). For Xmas it would be the same. And last year I went to mass and sang in the choir, followed by "Jewish Christmas" at a Chinese restaurant. It counted for me even though it was vastly different than I was used to. But I consider the day, the meal and the mass to be the holiday (so something two days before wouldn't count).

And no, extroverts love people. It's how I get recharged!

[resolution]

I wouldn't consider myself alone if I held the event earlier or later with my family. I would just consider myself alone if I didn't hold the event at all. I am not sure how I would feel about it, but most likely I would be unhappy. When my parents started leaving town for Thanksgiving I started going over to my sister's because I didn't want to spend the day alone.

[Iggy aka IG]

Tiny, I was alone for Christmas one year-and by that I mean the nearest family or friends was hundreds of miles away. A salesperson by trade, I am around dozens of people a week, and definitely need recharging, which usually takes place on Sundays. Regarding a "major holiday" alone: I would carpe diem by doing what makes me happy.

[constanz22]

I almost always spend Christmas "alone". Sometimes I don't mind and other times it sucks. But, it's not like I don't celebrate with family at all. Mom lives in FL and I was just there visiting and we did our Christmas celebration. The rest of my local immediate family comes to my house the weekend after Christmas to do gifts. It's just different, but, being 43, single and no kids, you pretty much expect not to be included in that kind of stuff...I'm used to being alone.

[dannylion]

This will be the first Christmas that I am truly alone. I have no siblings, and my only two close family members, my dad and a cousin, passed away in August. I'm not religious, so no holiday church activities, and my friends don't really entertain for the holidays. I volunteer at the local hospital, so that's what I'm going to do on Christmas day. I'm not really sure what it's going to be like as I have no precedent for comparison. I don't really consider the Christmases I spent overseas to have been spent "alone" as I still had family members back home. I expect it will pass like any other day.

[muttleynfelix]

Dec 18, 2012 0:52:16 GMT -5 resolution said:

I wouldn't consider myself alone if I held the event earlier or later with my family. I would just consider myself alone if I didn't hold the event at all.

[Deleted]

I don't think extroverts get tired. They seem to have boundless energy and don't need to sleep.

[chiver78]

Dec 18, 2012 7:46:33 GMT -5 @shooby said:

I don't think extroverts get tired. They seem to have boundless energy and don't need to sleep.

Yes and no. I'm definitely an extrovert, I'm happiest around friends and loved ones most of the time. I've also lived alone long enough that I do get tired, and just need quiet for a bit. My sis is the same way.

I do generally have holidays to myself, at least the rest of the day after whatever meal we have. I host my immediate fam, my parents roll up the sidewalks early and my sis/BIL always split the day with his fam (nobody's house is big enough for everyone). Its nice, I unwind from the chaos and get a good night's sleep

sent from my electronic distraction.

[Deleted]

Tiny,

What does being alone for the Holidays mean to you?

No one to shall with.

[Deleted]

[zibazinski]

If I were alone, I'd watch Xmas movies marathon, as in round the clock, while eating popcorn and chocolate. Such bliss! But I'm not so I do the "mom" thing because who knows how much longer I will have both my kids together? DS already does thanksgiving with his girlfriend. Next Xmas DD may be at quantico so although she would get leave, she can't go anywhere so I will have to go to her so she doesn't have Xmas alone. That being said, we probably will have others that are alone as well so ill be back to having a big group. I'm not thinking since the kids were little that we've ever had a holiday gathering without extra people. Mothers Day I had two extra "sons!"

[thyme4change]

A day all alone?! Man, that does sound like a holiday.

[Opti]

To me alone for the holidays means zero to few events to go to and probably nothing on the day before, day of, and day after. My family lives out of state and I don't see them nor do they try to come see me.

Because of financial considerations I skipped driving up to a friend's family hosting Thanksgiving this year. I worked on Thanksgiving and I will work on Christmas. It would actually suck more if I don't work at all as at least where I work there will be decent food and people coming to celebrate with patients.
I miss having a BF and spending holidays with his family. Gifts and basics for me aren't in my budget at this moment in time so it is partially a blessing to be out of the loop.

[Deleted]

You described my Christmas. I always say I am having a quiet Christmas day. I never considered it alone. This year I have LGW on Christmas day so things will be a bit different, but still quiet. We will go to a movie in the afternoon.

[Tiny]

Thanks for the perspectives! A dear friend with the full schedule I outlined has been moaning about being 'alone' for the Holidays (not specifically Christmas Day). Thanks to you guys I think she's really lamenting not having a 'family' to spend Christmas Day with - she's estranged from her siblings and her parents passed many years ago. Ok, I think she's really lamenting not having a 'hallmark hall of fame' kinda familly... she wasn't very happy at the holidays even when her parents were alive and she tolerated her siblings.

This time of year sure does rile up people's Inner Demons...

[giramomma]

Dec 18, 2012 11:42:28 GMT -5 Tiny said:

This time of year sure does rile up people's Inner Demons...

Yup, my therapist just reminded me that the holidays is her busy season, in terms of people's issues escalating. She's no spring chicken, so I'm supposing she's seen it for most of her longish career.

Being estranged from some family myself, I don't measure my sense of non-blood family (or being alone) by holiday activities or lack there of. It's what happens the rest of the year that is more important to me.

[Anne_in_VA]

DH and I will probably stay home by ourselves on Christmas Day. We did a dinner and gift exchange with DSD, SIL and the four grandkids this past Sunday as three of the kids with be with their other parents then. We'll spend Christmas Eve with DSS, DIL and their little one, then home and to bed. Both families live far away and because I used up all my leave time earlier in the year when I was sick, we won't be going to see any of them.

I'm looking forward to a quiet day, maybe listening to a talking book, or watching some TV, making dinner, and spending some alone time with DH. We haven't had that much time just for us recently and the time we have had I wasn't feeling well. I miss just sitting and talking or watching a movie together. It seems all we've done is shop, sleep and go to work.

[sheilaincali]

I'm always surrounded by people so I miss having alone time to decompress. Between now and New Year's day I think the only days I'll be free from people are the 26th and the 27th. Otherwise from Friday the 21st until NYE it's one group of people after another.

Hopefully after brunch at my sister's on Christmas Day we can sneak out and catch a showing of the Hobbit and get sushi after with just DH, DS and me.

[TheOtherMe]

I used to be one of the people who needed extra therapy around the holidays. I was not happy being alone, which meant I didn't have family around or anywhere to go. I hated when the office closed early on Christmas Eve. I'd volunteer to answer the phones.

I'm now at a stage in my life where I am much happier with myself, so I can embrace time alone rather than fearing it.

[chiver78]

Dec 18, 2012 11:07:23 GMT -5 @justaposter said:

You described my Christmas. I always say I am having a quiet Christmas day. I never considered it alone. This year I have LGW on Christmas day so things will be a bit different, but still quiet. We will go to a movie in the afternoon.

hmm....I'll bite - what's the L in LGW?

[Tiny]

Dec 18, 2012 21:30:12 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

Dec 18, 2012 11:07:23 GMT -5 @justaposter said:

You described my Christmas. I always say I am having a quiet Christmas day. I never considered it alone. This year I have LGW on Christmas day so things will be a bit different, but still quiet. We will go to a movie in the afternoon.

hmm....I'll bite - what's the L in LGW?

Little Girl Wonder - Laterbloomers newest foster kid!

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

Last year, I was alone for Christmas since my wonderful DH was deployed. (He's my only family)

This year, he's home ~ so we will spend the day together.

[mmhmm]

I'm trying to space things out this year, as mother just can't take a lot of people around for any period of time. It's just too hard on her. So, we're trying to arrange for one or two to come at a time and stay only for an hour, or two, depending on how she does. Thankfully, the kids and their kids understand why it has to be this way. They want to see her, but what's really important to all of us is that she is comfortable. Christmas Eve and Christmas day, she and I will probably spend quietly here at home.

[Deleted]

Dec 19, 2012 0:59:50 GMT -5 mmhmm said:

does. what's really important to all of us is that she is comfortable. Christmas Eve and Christmas day, she and I will probably spend quietly here at home.

mmhmm,

You have a wonderful family. All the best for you and your Mother, rest of the family.

It's going to be just three of us this year, just shall the spirit of the Christ mas.

[chiver78]

Dec 18, 2012 22:31:43 GMT -5 Tiny said:

Dec 18, 2012 21:30:12 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

hmm....I'll bite - what's the L in LGW?

Little Girl Wonder - Laterbloomers newest foster kid!

ah, gotcha. I hadn't seen the new name, but knew she was getting another foster kid. thanks!