A Bubble Off Plumb

It isn’t hard to fall into holiday doldrums, or the blues. Social media and holiday cards or visits can exacerbate the situation. Toss in shorter, darker daylight hours and it creates a trifecta of potential for a list of maladies.

They include feeling sorry for ourselves because our lives don’t match what we see on the internet and we can’t match the gift-giving ability of the rich and famous. Of course, that isn’t real, but instead a best case scenario, and no number of gifts can make up for long absences and infidelity.

Tackling the sadness that comes from missing those we love who are far away is harder and even remembering better days when they were nearby only eases the ache. It’s one of the conundrums of parenthood. If we do a good job, we put ourselves out of work. The self-sufficient independent children we raised don’t find it necessary to be at their childhood home each and every holiday. They may have their own homes and families, or are visiting the in-laws.

Just because we are proud of them doesn’t mean we don’t miss them and always will. I long for the days when the house was full of rambunctious children, hyped up on sugar and anticipation.

But there is a cure. Being grateful and truly thankful for what we have will eliminate longing for what we don’t have, may never have or achieve.

So the house isn’t a mansion on the coast or a magnificent log home in the mountains. But it probably is better than a cardboard box or homeless shelter. It beats being a prisoner of war or a victim of human trafficking.

Maybe that house isn’t full of kids and grandkids this year. But there are friendly faces at the grocery store or in the church pew. There is a hot coffee pot over at the senior citizens center and those folks would be glad for the company.

Is it easy to have an attitude of gratitude when so much has changed or is so far from what we have come to expect? No way. It’s one of the hardest things I have ever done.

But I am trying every day to find something new to appreciate, be grateful for and enjoy. Whether that is a soft, gray, rainy sky or just a text from a friend, the effort is well worth the results.

The important thing isn’t feeling better. It’s that we keep on trying.