Sure, the first year (or two) of COVID were wretched, but most of those barriers have since cleared — yet I’m still struggling. I’ve noticed the same with a number of people within my family and neighbourhood.

How are others feeling? Are you struggling, yet succeeding? If so, how are you breaking through?

  • Vagabond
    21•6 months ago

    I lost my dad to cancer about two week before last Christmas. And my birthday is a few days after Christmas as well. I’ll be damned if I ever feel like celebrating Christmas or my birthday ever again

    • @[email protected]
      14•6 months ago

      I’m really sorry about your loss. Christmas is whatever, but I hope you can get to a place to truly appreciate your birthday.

    • @[email protected]OP
      10•6 months ago

      I lost my sister suddenly 2 days before Christmas in 2008. The joy came back — after a fair amount of therapy and contemplation — and over time, life grew around the gaping hole.

      A couple of quotes that I keep near me:

      Yet, in a bizarre, backwards way, death is the light by which the shadow of all of life’s meaning is measured. Without death, everything would feel inconsequential, all experience arbitrary, all metrics and values suddenly zero.

      Mark Manson

      When you dull pain and hide it from yourself, you dull your joys as well.

      Robin Hobb, Fool’s Fate (Tawny Man #3)

      All the best for this holiday season, and all the ones that follow.

      • @[email protected]
        2•6 months ago

        Overused but a favorite of mine:

        Gotta have opposites, light and dark and dark and light, in painting. It’s like in life. Gotta have a little sadness once in awhile so you know when the good times come. I’m waiting on the good times now.

        • Bob Ross
    • @pohart
      3•6 months ago

      My mother passed at the same time last year. It’s been a tough year and Christmas things are just making me sad this year.

      You’re not alone in this and I’ve been told it gets better.