A Holiday Season Of Mindfulness
This is an issue that should be addressed because it’s a time of year that carries a huge amount of many emotions. It’s a hectic season to begin with, and I have noticed that for at least myself, huge guilt and shame can often be the potential problem around this holiday season.
It makes sense for myself at least, considering that for many Christmas times, I barely got through them, while struggling with active horrific addiction. And driving the ones around me into a dark, chaotic mess many times.
Self-loathing was normally at its highest peak when trying to manage and hide a severe addiction, right on Christmas day. Besides self-loathing, many of us probably carry disappointment within ourselves. Including an absence of dignity, with sobriety and mindfulness, being so far off, that they never develop in any part of our mindset. Not consciously, nor subconsciously.
The emotions will likely come at us head-on. Even if we are now living in a world of sobriety. I would like to consider my own tools of mindfulness as weapons against being a victim of the past. What I mean is, putting a cease to the types of pain that attack us from our past.
One that engulfs us with guilt, even when we are working hard on erasing those guilty and shameful feelings. No matter what, the act of ruining a Christmas, even if many years ago, is something that can seem to never go away.
This isn’t about taking away the legitimacy of the pain we caused onto a loved one. But what this is about, is working through strong amends, and seeking and finding forgiveness.
This holiday mindfulness is really more about the here and now. Just like your average everyday kind. Mindful of the type of appreciation, and warm feelings that can come from finding amends by simply making Christmas or other important family time one that’s real, and memorable, in the now.
We tend to make our best amends not through words, but instead by the ways we choose to live. Without having to advertise to the world about how wonderful we think we’re being.
I know this type of talk may seem to be a bit on the cliche side. As it’s being compared to, or being put parallel to Christmas. Just like how it is with Valentine’s day when people seem to be more in love, and send more flowers that day, than any other day. Even though love should really be reflected every day if the year.
I am a huge supporter of the studies of mindfulness. I will adamantly state that it’s a practice that should be studied year-round. Holiday seasons like Christmas and even New Year are an especially important time to remember and recognize the importance and priceless value of our loved ones.
While the feeling of dreaded loneliness can be exceptionally amplified right now, we also must remember that we do have the ability to turn that kind of negativity around and give thanks to the blessing that we have bestowed unto us.
As the month goes on, I will likely cover more about Christmas. I’ve had many beautiful ones, but I’ve also terrorized and made chaotic, just as many as an effect from the days past of my active addiction. For now, I wish all you great blessings, and I am thankful for all of your continued loyal readership.
Michael Patanella
is a Trenton, New Jersey Author, Publisher, Columnist, Editor, Advocate, and recovering addict, covering topics of mental health, addiction, sobriety, mindfulness, self-help, faith, spirituality, Smart Recovery, social advocacy, and countless other nonfiction topics. His articles, publications, memoirs, and stories are geared towards being a voice for the voiceless. Hoping to reach others out there still struggling.
