Christmas living alone

Post Reply New Topic

Hello and Merry Christmas. Today I put up and decorated my Christmas tree (2 feet but looks bigger because it stands on the coffee table) and I wondered if anyone else does this knowing they are the only people who will see it?

I was late (over 30) coming to the realisation that it was worth the bother even if it was just for myself, and I wondered what other people on their own do. I see it as evidence that even if I can't live with others at least I've learnt to live with myself.

I will be cooking Christmas dinner at my Mum's this year as we've manged to bond a bit over both being hated by my sister so that's something, but I've had Christmas dinners alone before and I've learnt to go all out, even if it seems a bit sad at first and wondered what everyone else on there own was going to do.

I usually cook myself a nice meal, and that's about it.

I generally just treat it like any other day, as far as that is possible. If any of my friends would otherwise be on their own, we might get together for a few drinks in a very small group. If the weather's OK, I like to go out for a long walk, as everywhere is so quiet and peaceful while the majority of folks are eating too much and watching the same old re-runs on the TV.

It doesn't make me feel sad or lonely to do that, and I'm not militantly anti-Christmas, as I wouldn't want to spoil it for anyone else. I keep in touch with family by seeing them at quieter times that are easier for me to cope with. They know about my autism, and I live quite a long way from them, so my absence doesn't offend anyone.

^^ I think I get a bit of that feeling from knowing that the shortest day has passed too, even though that's a few days earlier and the worst winter weather might be yet to come. Even though I don't do the usual Xmas festive stuff, it feels right to be celebrating something at that time.

I have a little tree and Im the only one that sees it. I honestly wouldnt have decorated at all but it was my moms idea. I dont mind having it though. I live alone and it is quite lonely. : (

I'm not into Christmas or any other holidays really but my girlfriend likes em. She put out a two foot tree a couple years ago & we're about the only people who saw it cuz we don't have visitors much except her mom comes in when her parents bring her back from staying at their place & they leave shortly after the groceries are brought in. About the only other person who comes over is her sister but it's not that often sometimes. Cass didn't put out the tree this year partly because she's been too stressed & we have a different cat now who would probably knock it over & then attack the decorations & break em.

I put up a tree and decorate it in my apartment every year, even though I'm the only one who usually sees it. But it's nice to see all it lit up in the evenings when I'm watching TV or napping on the couch. My parents were over this week hooking up my new TV and cable box, but they never even mentioned anything about the tree or decorations.

My parents got me that tree a years ago because I wanted it, so the least I do is display it. I even have an official Charlie Brown tree, complete with Linus's blanket and a big red ball that fortunately doesn't make the tree fall over when I put it on.

For me, it is important to continue the milestones of life even if I am the only person who experiences it. I even celebrate my annual autism diagnosis day by going to a nice restaurant or a bakery for some cheesecake. Nobody knows but me.

But, I learned that it helps to schedule certain activities over several days. Otherwise, the effect resembles a kind of slap-bang redesign one day with another coming the following morning. Slowing it all down where every day or two offers a new ritual is important to make the experience more authentic.

I have found that including specific books, music, movies and meals can make all the difference. And the art of contemplation (religious for some, maybe not so much for others) in the final hours can offer quite the sense of accomplishment well done.

Thanks for this topic!