We started today's discussion with a comment left on last week's post about happiness. A Sister said:
"I think happiness can come both from the inside and outside...For example, it's hard to be happy when something really bad happens, and sometimes that makes you mad or sad or whatever. But still, it's possible to be happy if you have something left, like family and friends, or a hobby, because then you can have hope. Also, it's hard not to feel happy when you're surrounded by good things and a comfortable ambiance."
Good point! So, thinking about the holiday season, do you think there's an expectation to be happy all of the time? We talked about how this is sometimes challenging if you have things going on in your life that are hard, like having lost a loved one, having a loved one who is ill, or even having a friendship change. A teacher Sister thought that if you're down or blue, it's magnified during the holiday season since the expectations for happiness are higher now. Several Sisters weighed in on what is hard for them now:
* Having a family tradition change
* Lots of false happiness
* Seeing images of "the perfect family" everywhere
* Winter break is a time to hang out with friends a lot. There are also a lot of parties and it's easy to feel left out--it's a hard time.
* The financial stress of Christmas for parents--the kids feel it
* Feeling guilty about asking for stuff
* When your family has moved and everything is different
What is hard for you right now? Have you ever had the Holiday Blues?
An A Lunch Sister said, "It's always ok to be sad, no matter what time of year it is." Many agreed. I think it's being honest with yourself and it's important to give yourself permission (see first blog entry) to admit that not every day is awesome and you don't owe it to anybody to show an emotion you're not feeling. So, if you're feeling sad, go to your place of comfort, talk to the people in your life who are comforting and safe...get it off your chest. Also, look at your happiness list if you're blue--just reading that list makes me feel better.
On a positive note, one of our B Lunch Sisters is going to Cambodia with her family to spend Christmas helping in an orphanage there. How amazing is that? You Sisters never fail to amaze me with your kindness and goodness.
4 comments:
Hi. You all don't know who I am, but sorry for missing the sisterhood last week!
As well as being sad, I think we need to GIVE OURSELVES PERMISSION to feel stressed and pressured. A lot of times things like grades can be a big pressure-giving thing at this time of year too.
Happy Holidays!
Well, I am really sorry that I couldn't come last week, I was at the drama meeting.
Last week, I didn't feel like knowing were Thailand was or what a - number times a - number equals. So I gave myself permission to not get stressed out. I could have done better, but it is hard for me to find a balence between good grades and not being stressed. I am trying to give myself permission to have fun before hw. Also, to be mad, even at best friends. That is harder.
Hmm...I think it's true that you can't force yourself to be happy during the holiday season, but sometimes I find it's harder to be sad when I look outside and see all the Christmas lights twinkling (they're so pretty!). I think the spirit and feel of the holiday season, even if you don't celebrate around this time of year, might be able to help you feel better if you're down.
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