Spare a thought for those on their own this Christmas

Heres a current event for you....

Be it purposefully, or unwitttingly - during this festive season there will be people who spend the time by themselves.

If you are fortunate enough not to be one of those people, at some time in the next 24 hours, put a little love into the world and raise a glass to those on their own.

If you have an elderly neighbour by themselves, pay them a visit for a little while. That half hour will be appreciated more than you could ever imagine.

Suprise calls to relatives and friends are also good - its amazing how such a small gesture can be so very well received.

Merry Christmas one and all.

Nef

I just wanted to express my appreciation for this post.
I'm going to be by myself this holiday. I'm not elderly, or sick or anything. I did my travelling "back home" during the Thanksgiving holiday, and just can't afford to do it again. As it happens, my roomate and my other friends here in my new city are all going back to their respective homes.
So it's just me. I'm not bummed or anything. There's always the Christmas Story marathon. But a suprise call from an old friend would definitely brighten my day.
Thanks for the positive energy.

Excellent post and to the kind soul above I shall raise a glass in toast of your christmas and hope it is a peaceful one.

Merry christmas to both of you

Cheers

Originally posted by neformore
If you have an elderly neighbour by themselves, pay them a visit for a little while. That half hour will be appreciated more than you could ever imagine.

What's more incredible is what it does for you.

Thanks for this post. It's an important thing to remember! It's what the season is all about, to me.

Have a wonderful holiday, everyone!

Eh, Christmas is a load of crap, anyway. Why can't people just unite everyday of the year? Why on just particular occasions? Bunch of shallow crap, if you ask me.

Well, perhaps it's probably my philistine family that makes it a dull day, but seriously, it's such a waste of time. I dread every single Christmas. Worst time of the year easily.

Anyone who comes cold calling to my house tomorrow will be getting some serious verbal.

I do wish some people could dispense with the sentimental nonsense & simply accept that there are many people for whom Christmas is utter torture from start to finish. And that they distance themselves from those who celebrate simply to retain their sanity.

They might not have faith. Christmas may bring sad memories, of people they've loved and lost. Or they might have very reasonable objections to the outrageous commercialism.

Either way, don't knock on their doors ; leave them in peace.

Sorry for your time Whiner but as a pretty much Pagan myself try to have a happy and joyful holiday season for no other reason than for your fellow man to have their personal time. Live and let live and quietly dispose of those that don't agree and keep on living to YOUR hearts content.

I agree that people should act like everday is christmas. The holiday may be sad for some people. I lost my aunt and two cousins two years ago on christmas as they were driving to our house. It sucks but having family around to celebrate the memories feels good. Why not visit a lonely neighbour? If they don't want company they'll say so and you can leave em be.

The surest way of not affecting anything is to do nothing.

I am sorry christmas is a horrible time for some. I use the 90/10 rule. The ten percent I cant control I deal with. The other 90 is in my attitude and how I choose to feel.

For those who lossed love ones my heart goes out to you.

Cheers

Thanks for the thought.

Im currently spending christmas alone, but thats how i choose to spend it. Im non religouse and dont buy in to the whole idea.

Why should i spend lots of money and be pressured in to feeling happy and celebrating just because its a certain time of the year.

Its nothing but a consumer fest and if people need to recieve gifts in order to feel loved i think theres something seriousely wrong with society.

The last thing i would want is for people to feel sorry for me. Or judge me to be some unhappy, lonely out cast. Im here now feeling quite fine and hoping those who do celebrate it are enjoying them selves.

Its people who have no home in this weather that my heart goes out to so if your seriouse about good will.

Go and find some of them and offer them a cup of tea or a nice warm blanket or some food. Let them know someone cares for a change.

I was out on the streets earlier and a bit of conversation and a friendly smile go's a long way to restoring some of their faith in people.

While your toasting a merry christmas before gorging your self with food and alchohol. Picture someone curled up in a ball literaly freezing to death.

Yours bitterly

The bringer of christmas cheer.

Originally posted by mikellmikell
...and quietly dispose of those that don't agree and keep on living to YOUR hearts content.

You mean like, kill them?

reply to post by neformore

Spare a thought for those on their own this Christmas

Thanks for the reminder.

While there is no sin in appreciating one's own life and family during these holidays, it is always good to remember those who would be us but for the grace of fortunate providence.

Happy Holidays

I know it's unfathomable but some of us are actually quite happy on our own at Christmas. But instead we get stigmatised as unfortunates in need of a charitable gesture. Honestly, it sucks. Each year, with no close family, I field invitations from well meaning friends who think there is some universal law that you shouldn't be alone at Christmas. I have had my share of turning up at other peoples family gatherings like the spectre at the feast. I have had my share of my own family gatherings. Honestly it's ok. Cheers!

Originally posted by mikellmikell
Sorry for your time Whiner but as a pretty much Pagan myself try to have a happy and joyful holiday season for no other reason than for your fellow man to have their personal time. Live and let live and quietly dispose of those that don't agree and keep on living to YOUR hearts content.

Same for me.

well if you grew up being alone every year you really don't care much for company at all. you'' try going to friends family but you'll just feel you don't belong. as for me, i'll give my dog a christmas present and drive him out to the beach and let him run free, it's empty this time of the year every year. while i relax and fish my christmas away.

Originally posted by unicorn1
I know it's unfathomable but some of us are actually quite happy on our own at Christmas. But instead we get stigmatised as unfortunates in need of a charitable gesture. Honestly, it sucks. Each year, with no close family, I field invitations from well meaning friends who think there is some universal law that you shouldn't be alone at Christmas. I have had my share of turning up at other peoples family gatherings like the spectre at the feast. I have had my share of my own family gatherings. Honestly it's ok. Cheers!

I'll drink to that one my friend! cheers.

reply to post by dude_outside


The Christmas Story movie. Oh, how I look forward each year to being able to catch that movie again and again. lol.

For all you folks out there in ATSland who might be alone this Christmas, just imagine me being there with you. I've got sort of whitish reddish hair, it's not very long. I have a white moustache and goatee. I smile a lot. I tell jokes and am quick with a sarcastic remark. I speak softly. But I laugh loudly. Uh, I'm wearing a pair of black pj bottoms with red AC-DC logo all over them. Shirtless, but it's okay cuz I ain't fat or soft for an old man. lol So I'm not quite a disgusting sight to behold as I'm sitting in your living room on the couch tossing down shots of Jim Beam followed by sips of Coke Zero and laughing my ass off at The Christmas Story on the TV. Mind if I smoke a pleasant smelling little cigar? Yes? K. I don't have to smoke it. Oh, I brought a small container of Halls on the River hot beer cheese and crackers. Enjoy the tang of it all. No sex, though. Get that thought right out of your mind. This is a platonic friends together on Christmas sort of thing. You're female and are hot for aging men? Well, maybe......convince me. Uh, you're Johhny Depp, well. um, cough, cough, er, well, okay. Just this once and only because you insist. Like Johnny Depp is alone on Christmas!!
Yes, I jest. Did I mention that? Yeah, I do that.
Hey, I even brought a present cuz you are special and someone is thinking about you this Christmas holiday. Happy Holidays!!!

Merry Christmas!

(Ahahaha! Just joking!)

Originally posted by Whine Flu

Originally posted by mikellmikell
...and quietly dispose of those that don't agree and keep on living to YOUR hearts content.

You mean like, kill them?

Heh. Tonight on CW is a repeat show of Supernatural where there is an evil Santa Claus critter who comes down the chimmney on Christmas Eve and drags unwitting folks up the chimmney to their deaths. :lol

Not to be off topic, to everyone who is alone by choice and happy, alone not by choice and maybe unhappy, I wish you goodness in your lives, everyday!!!

reply to post by neformore


What a wonderful message neformore

I'll never forget years ago on Christmas Eve, seeing this very elderly lady who reminded me of my grandmother so much. She would have been in her late eighties I guess. But what left an indelible impression on me was the loneliness of this old lady carrying her own bags through a crowd, with no one to help her with her shopping. She almost carried with her this aura of loneliness - if such a thing exists.

It happened more than twenty years ago, and I still think of her and shed a tear or two.

Loneliness is a bastard, and it effects more people than most might expect.

I applaud you for putting forward such a poignant reminder

S&F'd as this is a message everyone needs to be reminded of.

[edit on 24-12-2009 by mckyle]

Like many here, we all have a right to keep or not keep Christmas as we see fit. BUT, for those of us that generally celebrate a traditional Christmas, there are times we find ourselves in the unfortunate circumstance of being alone.
This year, all of our children are away and working... no house full for us and at first, it seemed it would really be a bummer. However, after talking, my wife and I decided to invite a needy family to enjoy and share Christmas with us. We do something every year to share our blessings( and for those so sadly cynical, we do help others all year long), but thought something a little extra would be of benefit to all.
And it was. What a wonderful evening we just finished. We see the challenges all around us, but walking with others really puts things in perspective. Of all the things we shared, oddly enough, riding to and from our house was the best...they didn't have a car and missed riding and seeing the Christmas lights and yard decorations. So simple and it meant so much.
So. if you find yourself alone and don't enjoy the prospect of a solitary Christmas, may I suggest sharing your Christmas with someone less fortunate. What a blessing all of you will recieve.