The Season To Be Merry? Maybe Not....

All of the Thanksgiving leftovers have been consumed, the Christmas trees are up, most of the presents are bought if not wrapped, the front of my house is decorated, and in the lobby of my building the Corporate Christmas tree stands tall.  Tis the season to be jolly, right?  Well, maybe, maybe not.  The truth is that many people find the holidays a difficult and challenging time.  While many people are “making merry”, others are sad, depressed, or stressed from financial challenges.  For many people the holidays stir up a lot of emotions and memories and not all of them are good.  Although I have never had a bad Christmas and I have a thousand reasons why I should be happy, I often feel depressed at this time of year.  It may be the chaos, it may be the busyness, or it may be the high expectations to feel happy.  Before the next month is finished I will be looking forward to the nothingness of January.  Despite the mixed emotions, I still like the holiday season.  There is something in the air that doesn’t seem to be around the rest of the year.  Small children sometimes smile at me because they think I am Santa Claus.  Other children are confused wondering why Santa shops at Target.  On Christmas morning I usually get everything I want  and a few things I didn’t even know I wanted.  I am very blessed in many ways.  In spite of my blessings, I often feel down in the dumps.  I know I am not alone.  Whatever your mindset, keep in mind that the Christmas season is a different experience for different people.  Be sensitive to how others may feel.  The world is full of Bob Cratchit’s and Ebenezer Scrooges.  I am a little bit of both but overall I am a big fan of joy and I hope we all feel lots of joy over the coming weeks.  If you don’t, however, you are not alone.  Hang in there.  This, too, will pass.