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How I Conquered My Fear of Being Alone on Christmas

Now I’m not sure I’d want to experience this holiday any other way…

Y.L. Wolfe
Liberty

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Photo by Brigitte Tohm via Pexels

For the past six months, I’ve been dreading the approach of Christmas. Who wants to face that first holiday season after a loved one’s death?

In my case, it was a bigger change than just the absence of my father. Due to a set of complicated circumstances, 2025 was going to be the first year we didn’t have a family Christmas at my mother’s house.

In other words, there’s loss…and then there’s loss.

As autumn unfolded, I became absolutely terrified that I’d end up spending Thanksgiving and Christmas alone. At the time, I couldn’t think of anything worse.

However, my brother kindly stepped in and invited me to spend both holidays at his house. In fact, he even floated the idea that I could spend the night on Christmas Eve.

I’m so grateful that he made that offer- and not just for the obvious reason. I’m grateful because considering that offer got me thinking about something I probably wouldn’t have thought of if he’d never mentioned it.

And if that had been the case, I wouldn’t have gotten to experience one of the best Christmases of my life.

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