Surviving Single and the Holidays
How to navigate the season with resilience…
Each year when the holidays approach, I think about what a difficult time it is for those who have recently experienced a major life change such as divorce, widowhood, or separation.
I remember when I was recently widowed during the holidays in 2015. Even though I was surrounded by family, the festive atmosphere during the holidays amplified my feelings of loneliness and isolation.
To this day, at all the family gatherings, the dreaded question is always “why are you still single?” This is usually followed up by some sort of boosting comment such as “you’re such a catch!”
This only makes me think ‘If I’m such a catch, why am I still single?’ which makes me question myself if I’m being too picky or setting too high standards for myself.
This can be partly blamed on the media. Movies, TV shows, and commercials show people gathering together in couples. Holiday invitations and parties include spouses which makes guests attending alone feel lonely.
Having experienced it first-hand, one of the ways that helped me was to get out of the house and change the scenery. It helps to attend events or try something new. Volunteering can also help combat loneliness and provide a sense of fulfillment…
