The holidays suck. On social media, everyone else seems disgustingly happy and is posting beautiful pictures of their amazingly “perfect” family. Your friends are being tagged in meaningful, praise-filled posts. They’re all full of it. The reality is that everyone’s holidays are stressful, expensive, chaotic, fattening, and triggering. We all know it; let’s be real about it. Your mother in law is passive aggressive and unbearable. The kids are loud, obnoxious, and ungrateful because their friends got what they really wanted. You had no clue what to get your spouse and you’re pretty sure they hate what you decided on, plus you’re fighting over something stupid. All you want to do is lock yourself away and take a ridiculously long, satisfying nap or lose yourself in FPS games to just ignore it all. Don’t do it! 

In this world of consumerism, comparison, and noise, it’s too easy to lose the real meaning for the season. Yes, Jesus’s birth is the real meaning behind the season, but beyond that, let’s take time to just be present. Appreciate that this year, you are where you are and you’re with who you’re with. Acknowledge that you wish you could be with those you’ve lost or maybe with those who are just too far away, but you aren’t or can’t. Be present where you are; choose to be grateful and appreciate that you’re with who you’re with.

When your in-laws get snarky, just smile—know you only have to deal with them for a few more hours, and be thankful that their child chose to slay life with you. Take that nap; play the video game; take care of yourself, but don’t isolate yourself either. Don’t totally check out, give yourself space and grace to acknowledge that being (and maybe faking) this happy is hard. You’ve got this and you’ve got legions who are just a phone call away and are willing to support you even at your worst. During this time when it’s extra easy to be dragged down by a world full of anxiety, depression, and hopelessness, be intentional…choose joy, choose gratitude, choose happiness, choose to look for the positive—especially during the holidays.

And Nehemiah continued, “Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!” Nehemiah 8:10

-Misty