I don’t know about you but I can do breakfast in a restaurant on my own and even lunch but I find it all too painful to eat dinner alone.
You look around and everyone seems to be with friends or colleagues, laughing, drinking and telling stories, making me feel more alone than I would be at home alone.
Christmas can be like this too, thinking everyone else is out there having a great Christmas with their family and friends and I’m not. It is also a time for thinking about people who are no longer with us, family too far away or unfriendly and friends who have left us to be with others.
These sorts of thoughts can bring us right down at Christmas.
This year, let’s change all that and have a fabulous party for one. Get yourself a bottle of your favourite, break out the champers, get some great vids, play your old music loves, cook yourself a great lunch, have a lovely afternoon nap and be nice to yourself all day.
We all fail to love ourselves enough. We are unique, there never was anyone like you and there never will be. You are a miracle child.
Write down all the things you are grateful for and all the things you like about yourself. Some of us have had rotten childhoods, difficult adolescence times and many struggles along the way but you are here, and your resilience is something you should champion.
Also spare a thought or two for those who would rather catch a bus to Perth than visit those boring rellies again. So, you could have it made with a party for one.
One last thing, if you live in Sydney, get down to your local park and find others having a party for one. At noon, see who you can bump into. If you live around Potts Point, go to the park in front of Elizabeth Bay House in Onslow Ave, if you live in Surry Hills go to Shannon Reserve, cnr Foveaux and Crown Sts, and if you’re in the Newtown area go to Hollis Park, Warren Ball Ave, Newtown. Grab a chook, some extras and see who is down there.
You never know — you might find the best Christmas present you ever had. Yum!
INFO: by Gerry North, a Sydney-based gay counsellor specialising in couples counselling. Email Gerry on [email protected] about any matters you want discussed.
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Hi Michael. Thanks for some good ideas for my Christmas this year.Being alone at this time really sucks but i think i will cruise down to Bondi ( i live in Bellevue Hill) and see what the backpackers are up to this Christmas day.
If anyone intends to visit any park at noon could you post it on here so others can join you. I did nominate 3 parks in my article but you can suggest others here. Great to help each other. Maybe one of you want to invite another to somewhere as well. Gerry North
hi michael.yeah it sucks but you can soften the day with adopting a positive view to try to enjoy the day. visit a park and see what happens. Good to voice your view as you are already then sharing yourself with me and others. take care matey.
You can love yourself all you want, but it still does not take away the fact that being alone on Christmas day sucks.