Published on 12, July, 2020
So, for me, there is little good.
Good = buying anything that includes fresh foliage and making table decorations with it (and collecting foliage to add) then the arrival of January.
Bad = expectations, expense, overload of everything..
Ugly = years from childhood of trauma related to this time of year, not just at home with my parents but also the financial and social obligations that were too much for me.
These now cause cyclical depression.
Also, lack of any real meaning as I'm agnostic.
My survival tips after 4+ decades of active involvement:
Cut down as much as you can on present buying without falling out with people - I've managed to now no longer buy for the vast majority of my family and half my friends (half = 1).
I found approaching this with people very anxiety making and I was concerned about conflict but I've been surprised that on the whole, most people are accommodating and some people even seem to be positive about it.
Cut down as much as you can on socialising (as above).
Try to learn to say 'no' if you are anything like me, too obliging for my own good.
This is a just a short synopsis of thoughts that have been racing through my head today.
I'd love to hear anyone's own version of the above.
For me a positive to Christmas is that we have passed the winter equinox. I only have to buy a present for my wife and mother, my wife takes care of my mothers present so I in fact only have one to buy for.
My father passed away at Christmas, I seem to have mother every Christmas, my siblings seem to have lives. My wife invited everyone for Boxing Day last year, so far this year I think we will be on our own with mother. I don’t really mind as I don’t particularly like going anywhere.
For all the fuss, Christmas Day is just a bit of Sunday dinner.
Do you know, it’s 3 months until Pancake Day and the supermarket already has eggs and flour on the shelves? Total madness.
Roy said:it’s 3 months until Pancake Day and the supermarket already has eggs and flour on the shelves? Total madness.
Supermarkets always have eggs and flour on the shelves
It was my feeble attempt at humour, apparently autistic people often don’t respond to jokes,
Roy said:I was exactly the same when you mentioned S&M, you had to explain the joke to me.
That's a private matter Roy
Seriously though there's no face or tone of voice involved so it's understandable.
I was exactly the same when you mentioned S&M, you had to explain the joke to me.
I actually wondered if it was a joke.
Very funny now I know