Why am I not enjoying the festivities and being merry? There are many reasons for this and I shall outline them for you.
It gives me a great opportunity to have some reflection time to myself and process some of the madness and confusion that is encompassing my / all of our life /lives currently. I do have lurgy, not serious but all the same, this has scuppered my plans. I had intended to visit my partner but her father is ill with leukaemia and regardless of what kinda lurgy I have if she passes it on to him then that is not a good picture to unfold. Hence the Xmas alone! This is a disappointing decision to be made but it's for the best. We were just going to spend some time with each other none of this overindulgence scenario.
Personally, I'm not fussed about Xmas to me is just another commercial venture for the corporations. The religious connotation has long gone and the push is now one of overindulgence and commercial gain. Now don't get me wrong here there are positives a lot of people see their family who wouldn't normally, most people get time off work too; this is a great chance to recharge mentally. To me, though this should not take a festival to be able to enjoy peoples company; any time is good. Let's face it most people don't even follow the meaning of the birth of Christ now. I'm not religious but the whole base of Christmas is celebrating the Christian narrative. Half the time the relationships are strained causing a fake illusion of happy families. Not all the time I am aware but should we not celebrate with those we love all the time?
To celebrate is a joyous thing and I love to but I just feel Christmas has lost its value to me. Its commercialisation and greed just consume the wonder for me. Come on it bloody starts in October now!
The original celebration is the Solstice! Now that's something that has meaning; to me anyway, if it doesn't to you then that's your call. The Solstice to me celebrates ancient traditions in marking something physical. We can notably see the light of the days coming back, it symbolises the sequence of nature. These are the connections I want to feel! We are losing touch with the planet we live on and the ecosystem we are a part of. If everyone traded the big meal, expensive plastic presents and took a break in the woods or even a walk with loved ones; I wonder the impact this would have on the mental health of us all?
Originally people bought the tree into the house and covered it with lights to celebrate the coming of lighter days. I do mark the Solstice and this year did so with a wild camp in the local woods. It was an opportunity to embrace nature and celebrate the end of the darker days and welcome the new light and prosperity. It was lovely; blooming cold though but I felt refreshed connected after. Again traditionally people got together to celebrate the Solstice they also celebrated each other, love and prosperity. This was shown with food and joyous times, but not overindulging or showering each other in over price gifts and breaking the bank to keep up with the Jones's.
Let's not be morbid though it is great that people can get together and enjoy company and laughs. I would just cut down on the indulgence personally. Being on my own I will have a nice day of relaxation and mediation.
I hereby make a tradition where the 25th of December will be a day to acknowledge the overconsumption of the year and reflect on this to find a less consuming way to live the year to come. A DAY OF GIVING 🙏🏽
What better way to see the day out to me this holiday period it is a chance to rebuild, give back to society. This year I will explore ways I can give back on this day moving forward. Also, relax and prepare for the year ahead.... the year ahead whoaaa that's another post to come ...
So how or whatever you are celebrating today ENJOY but don't overindulge 🙏🏽🎄
@thebarefootot 