A challenge to celebrate the Christmas holidays Blogmas#15

December has arrived and Christmas time will soon be here. For many, the most wonderful and fairy-tale time of the year. Streets and homes are festively decorated, Christmas-themed music is playing and TV channels are showing films with images of the Christmas idyll. But looking between the lines, all is not necessarily as it seems. Don't believe it? Maybe you think that only pessimists think so? If so, read on.

The Christmas season, like other major holidays, has unfortunately become a time of unbridled spending, commanded socialising, overeating and forced merrymaking, most of it by weak methods. Although all this gives many a feeling of fulfilment and happiness, these feelings do not last long in most cases. When the initial euphoria wears off, we are left with an empty wallet after spending, presents that like to sit in a corner, and the pitfalls of overeating have been sufficiently discussed elsewhere.

Nor is happiness universal. Despite Christmas being seen as a happy and family holiday, this is not necessarily true for everyone. Some people, through a combination of circumstances, find themselves alone at this time of year. Perhaps it is the more introverted individuals who feel even more marginalised by all this propaganda. The ideals of Christmas happiness are also set quite high, which leaves bad feelings in the hearts of people who do not achieve them, either in reality or only in their own opinion. Happiness is an emotion that, despite what some people think, does not act on command. Just as, say, love does not.

It is no coincidence that the Christmas-New Year period is known as the period of greatest depression, which somehow does not fit in with the idealistic image of the festive season.

And now for the challenge. Let us try to spend this holiday season, and possibly all the next ones, differently from the established patterns imposed on us, especially by the media, but nevertheless making the most of them:

- Let's leave the media at least a little bit more aside during this period, because they are the biggest source of unrealistic ideas about the holidays that leave people empty at the end of the day.

- Instead of expecting what the holidays should look like and what they will bring, let's focus on the here and now. Let us remember all the good things we have experienced this year and all the good things we have in this moment. Let us also not be too weighed down by New Year's resolutions.

- Masses of gifts and lavish feasts are no substitute for genuine human relationships. Instead of going crazy in crowded shops, which is more reminiscent of the end of the world than of the festive season, let us focus on our loved ones and those special people in our lives. A heart-to-heart talk, wishes from the heart and warm words often mean more than material goods.

And last but not least - let's try to use as much of it as possible, as often as possible, not just on the prescribed dates.

What do you think? Are you ready for such a challenge, even if it might take you out of a certain kind of life on the beaten track and out of your comfort zone? You are invited to give your opinion, whatever it may be, in the comments.

See you again tomorrow!