It is a normal day

I don’t celebrate Christmas. I don’t buy presents (apart from giving a present to a client last year), give cards anymore, eat turkey or see family. Normally,  I treat Christmas day like a normal work day, this year will be a normal Saturday. I will get all my domestic chores done, read, have a pizza and may be watch a good film. I am far from lonely and sad.

It annoys me when people feel sorry for me since I will be on my own. I want to be on my own - leave me alone and stop calling me to find out if I am okay! Don't feel sorry for me!

I find it hard to understand  how much pressure some people put themselves under in the name of the season. The pressure of finding the perfect present or affording an ever growing pile of more expensive presents, the pressure of cooking the perfect meal, the pressure of finding the perfect tree, the pressure of everyone getting along, the overall ongoing pressure to make this year better than it was last year and to make sure everyone has a good time.

I also remember office parties where the build up and the tallk was far far better than the actual party. The expectations were so high that it could be nothing but a let down.

A good number of my clients tell me that they don’t enjoy Christmas at all, but it’s just something they feel they “have” to do, especially if they have children. I fail to understand why people do things because they feel they “should” rather than actively want to do it.

Further the greenie in me is outraged at the excess and waste too – the presents-for-presents-sake, the packaging, the food... there is so much waste!

Christmas for me is just not worth all the stress and waste. Besides I am Humanist so it has not have a religious significance.

For those who do celebrate Christmas, I hope you have a good one. For those who don’t (I am sure there are many), have a fantastic Saturday