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Home Alone for the Holidays

Christmas is supposed to be 'the most wonderful time of the year.'

All too often, it isn't.

As the cards and carols like to remind us, Christmas is supposed to be a time for families and togetherness, peace and well-being for all. If only the problems in life paid more attention to the songs on the radio and it really was that easy.

The Holidays are Hard to Face Alone
Whether you're single or divorced, your spouse is away on business or there has been a death in the family, Christmas can be a heartbreaker. But just because you're not going to be surrounded by family this year is no reason to not have a great Christmas. With a little planning, it can be a wonderful time.

Decorate the House
Even if you're the only one who's going to see it, take the time to decorate your home. Put up a Christmas tree, hang some lights. Send out cards. Make Christmas cookies. One of the hardest things about spending Christmas alone is the feeling that everyone else is having a great time and you've been excluded. Make sure you're not excluding yourself.

Plan Something Special
There's nothing worse than hearing everyone else's excitement over the upcoming holidays and having nothing to look forward to yourself. If you haven't got big plans for the next couple of weeks, now is the time to fix that. Plan a treat for yourself, something really special. Not only will it add to your holiday, but it'll give you a great answer to that dreaded question: "So what are you doing for Christmas?"

Be Around Other People
Sitting around the house by yourself on Christmas Day is enough to depress anyone. Find people to be with. If you have friends that are alone this Christmas, host a dinner at your house. If you'd like to help out somewhere, there are always soup kitchens and charities that need people on Christmas Day. Whatever you decide to do, make sure you have someone to say "Merry Christmas" to.

Give Yourself Some Quiet Time
Sometimes the reason we're alone at Christmas is a sad one. If this is you this season, give yourself the time and the permission to feel sad, just don't let it become your entire focus. Christmas has a way of turning the world into a fantasy place where everyone is supposed to be happy and everything is wonderful. Resist the urge to fake a smile all through the month of December. If your heart is broken this year, take the time to remember, to look at old pictures, to mourn. Just make sure you call a friend afterwards and go for coffee. Life does go on and Christmas still can be a most wonderful time of the year.

Related Reading:
The True Story of Christmas
Purposeful Living
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~ Claire Colvin is the Editor of Women Today Magazine and Christian Women Today. She has a BA in English from Trinity Western University.