Being alone at Christmas

FredG

Due to issues with family two of my Christmases in the last 5-6 years I've been alone and they have been two of the best. I like my own company and dislike the weight of expectation and what it does to peoples' personalities.

no1catman

The majority of the 80s and 90s I spent Christmas Day alone with my cat - my Parent's would visit for an hour or two in the morning, but no one else e.g. siblings, no 'phone calls.
Just me - an opportunity to turn the amp. up, then watch the Christmas TV programmes that I like.


Got used to it, sometimes a get together over the hols with neighbours.


Sometimes I may have got lucky at Christmas Discos, but always felt odd one out at Office Christmas do's - no partner to take!

Newly_retired

Pollycat, there are definite reasons why I don't go and why he needs to go. But I know he will come home wrung out.
PasturesNew, of course it is not the same as being alone on Christmas day.
As it is, I am just grateful to be in a warm, dry, heated house, with no risk of flooding.

snowleopard61

I don't in the least mind my own company - in general, I relish it, but I'd be rather sad not to see my (young adult) children at Christmas. If circumstances prevented it, though, I'd make the best of it and enjoy the day as best I could - and not let them think I was finding it difficult. And I'd declare another day Christmas and celebrate it with them instead.

But I honestly can't imagine that spending Christmas day with random kind people would do anything at all to make it better; worse, if anything! It would be the worst of both worlds in that it both emphasised that you were parted from people you loved and made it impossible for you to enjoy the pleasures available to you by having only yourself to consider.

red_devil

Another programme on loneliness on this week. Talking to some younger people as well not just older,

Lunar_Eclipse

I value honesty so try to take people at their word. If someone says they're fine being alone at Christmas, I'd like to think they're being truthful. Some people genuinely enjoy or prefer their own company.

It absolutely wouldn't be okay for me though, so if I was faced with the prospect of Christmas Day alone, I'd volunteer so that I wasn't.

Also, whilst I understand people becoming more generously spirited at Christmas, it saddens me to think such invites might not extend to the rest of the year to those in need or who would appreciate more company.