I Hate Christmas (And I Know I'm Not Alone)

[Westsidex]

Qph, could you delete that post entirely, there's something I just noticed about it, that I didn't notice before.

i have an idea what it is,
Westside.

[LLAMEDOS]

Qph, could you delete that post entirely, there's something I just noticed about it, that I didn't notice before.

-- Ha ha , I thought it was unlike you to share that "type-theme" of a cartoon.
You being a Herero-Dog !

[WD-40]

I just love the time of work

[Mousey]

Awh, Dolly and Kelly, you can come over here and stroke my.... belly over Christmas

[luther]

Qph, could you delete that post entirely, there's something I just noticed about it, that I didn't notice before.

Did you get caught out again???..........................

[luther]

For many, it's a time of great stress, financially and emotionally.....................

As said, it for some, brings more free time, but for others it actually means a lot more work, and more pressure..........

It's mainly because of the commercialism. Many shops are forced to stay open longer hours to be competitive, this in turn means longer working hours for all involved, and less time to enjoy Christmas and less time to spend with family and loved ones..........

Small business owners come under ever increasing pressure to stay in a market being dominated by large multinational players...........

People feel under pressure to buy the most expensive gifts that can in order to keep up, and at a time where there is less and less money to go around, although I actually have a few thoughts on this.....

People have less money to spend on gifts so put themselves under even greater pressure than previous years when there was a little more money about and people had a little more of a disposable income. However, I do feel this year, in some cases perhaps, that people are under a little less pressure than previous years, as everybody knows that people are feeling the pinch, and actually expect a lot less in regards the value if gifts, or at least that's how I would expect rational people to view the situation..........

Of course the problem there is that one person is feeling it a little more that the other, one can still afford to splash out a little, but the other can't, one has to cut back, the other doesn't which can lead to a great amount of stress for both. Does one try to cut back a little as they know their friend is going through a tough time in the money dept and they don't want to put them under pressure to spend to much??? Does the less well off friend put themselves under undue pressure by trying to spend to much in an effort to keep up??? The gift are exchanged and the realisation that one has spent more than the other can lead to a very embarrassing situation for both. Not a great Christmas feeling..........

My advice, talk to your family and friend. Do a secret Santa, or put a cap on things. Put a reasonable upper spend limit on things...........

Of course kids can't rationalise and reason like this and that is where the real commercialisation comes in. It's shoved down everybody’s throat at every turn for weeks before Christmas and parents feel under pressure to please their kids, not to let them down, not to disappoint them and not to get into the whole, my friend is getting this, or, my friend got that kind of thing.........

Yes, Christmas should be a time of giving and receiving, but it shouldn't only be a time for giving and receiving...........

Yes, Christmas should be a time of great joy, but for many it's not. It's a time for reflection over the year passed, of the loved and lost, of the dids and did nots, of family and friends passed. For some it's a time of sadness and loneliness, for thoughts and feelings that are dealt with every other day and week can become exaggerated and pushed to the fore in the festive season......

So no, not everybody enjoys Christmas. But it's not just that they want to be a scrooge, or that they don't want to join in in the celebrations, or they just want to be a grumpy so and so, or want to ruin it for others, but as I've said before, everybody has a story, so perhaps this Christmas we should all be a little more tolerant of each other, consider each others situation, and perhaps ask ourselves what we can do to improve our own............and each others.........


Sorry, I went on a bit there.............

[rover]

Did you get caught out again???..........................

I sure did, had you noticed what I failed to notice?

[espensen]

I absolutely hate it. I am surrounded by family who I don't get on with, so it's the most lonely isolated day of year.

[Quarterpoundher]

I sure did, had you noticed what I failed to notice?

One sec, I'll just undelete so we can all have a close look.

[rover]

One sec, I'll just undelete so we can all have a close look.

Ahem, please don't, people might not understand.