For many people the holidays are the happiest time of the year, surrounded by family and friends and others they hold dear.
For those, it is indeed something to celebrate.
For others the opposite is true, for a number of different reasons.
Maybe they don’t have a close knit family to celebrate with.
I know for me, the holidays were usually the only time of year when I was guaranteed a visit from my dad, so each year when they roll around it’s a glaring reminder of what I’ve lost, that something is missing, and even though it’s been 40 years it STILL hurts.
Similarly, many others have lost loved ones, due to sickness and death, I’m certain they too have a difficult time during this typically joyous time of year, because they are missing their loved ones.
Others suffer from mental health conditions such as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), that can be made SO much worse at that time of year when the days are often cold and gray with very little warmth or the sun’s shining rays.
Finally there are those who choose not to participate in traditional events surrounding the holidays either for personal or religious reasons-(for the record, that DOES NOT mean don’t believe in Christ, or that they aren’t Christian.)
Here’s a thought, rather than make assumptions like that, or judge those who choose NOT to participate in holliday celebrations whatever the reason, why not just ask why they don’t want to take part, and then actually LISTEN to their response.
Who knows, you just might learn something.
Regardless of the response you get, I would ask you to RESPECT their beliefs just as you would want someone to respect yours-even IF they are DIFFERENT from what you believe.