Christmas - this year it's personal

Here it is again, a Very Covid Christmas. Depending on where you live, you might have had a 'normal' 2020 Christmas, maybe even in 2021 as well. For most of us though, since 2022, things have changed significantly when it comes to gatherings with family and friends. The weight of precautions probably sits squarely on your shoulders which isn't fair. None of this is fair. Christmas isn't a happy family time for a lot of people and perhaps you never liked large groups and forced socialisation. It's not everyone's flute of bubbly. How can we change that this year?

We are socialised to believe that being alone is pitiful, sad, wrong in some way. Of course this is a nonsense and also, after five years of being at least partially isolated due to the ongoing pandemic, we might not want to be alone right now. And that's okay. You are allowed to crave other people who haven't made Christmas inclusive. It's incredibly hurtful to have your needs discounted... again. Let's have a look at how you might go about meeting some of those needs yourself. Firstly, ask yourself what you miss about Christmas past:

• the company of family

• the food and drink

• the games

• the feeling of tradition

• the colours

• the music

• the presents

  
  

It could be all these things and more. The good news is you can do most of this for yourself and build new traditions. If you miss the food and drink, you are probably missing SPECIFIC dishes. You might have loved the pavlova and dreaded the plum pudding. Solo Christmas means having your pavlova and knowing it's all for you. You can also eat at whatever time of day (or night) suits you best. You have all the table/couch room as well. Presents? Buy your own. Music? Play what you like and decorating is now in line with your aesthetic.

A solo Christmas doesn't have to be without company. There are online Christmases for covid conscious folk. Check your social media groups or set something up yourself. Your overseas friends can be a part of your celebrations which is a huge bonus. If you have games, get them out and start an epic campaign whether it's D&D or Monopoly. Swap recipes and make each other's suggestions for drinks. Show each other your decorations and pets if you have them. An online Christmas is severely underrated. So go and find a group that's hosting.

If you are feeling like you'd prefer to have Christmas alone you might already have your own traditions and ways to feel comfortable with all the holiday hype. That's marvellous. I would like to share my favourite thing about a quiet Christmas and that is... television! Christmas episodes! I will always watch The Office, Ted Lasso and The Simpsons, that's just common sense. I'll also roll out Buffy and The Gilmore Girls for the overall vibe of the thing. Comedy is incredibly healing and provides superior distraction. A Christmas with Dwight Schrute is a Christmas well spent.

We have more tools now to make Christmas more inclusive. As technology improves and becomes more affordable, it could be that 2025 is the year of the Plus Life gatherings. I really hope so for everyone who misses in person events.. For now, pour yourself a festive drink, grab some gingerbread biscuits and get cosily settled in front of the TV and air conditioning if in Australia. This might be our last alone time Christmas if technology keeps moving forward. Savour the parts you hold dear and really spoil yourself. It's been a REALLY challenging year and in the immortal words of Sam Obisanya (Ted Lasso) “Santa’s true power isn’t his speed, but his endurance.” The same goes for you true power.

TV shows with excellent Christmas Episodes from comedy to sci-fi:

• The Simpsons

• Ted Lasso

• Malcolm in the Middle

• Gilmore Girls

• Buffy

• Kath and Kim

• The Office (USA obviously)

• Outnumbered

• Motherland

• Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

• Black Mirror

• Community

• 30 Rock

• Schitt's Creek

• Seinfeld

• Downton Abbey