Homesick for the holidays, but still spreading love, cheer
The month of December is here, which means the holiday season is upon us. It's that time of year when you long for your childhood and simpler times. To be six years old again and thrilled that Mom let you sneak a Christmas cookie before supper, delighted to see Dad finally plug in the lights on the tree, elated to get your picture taken with Santa, and giddy at the thought of what wondrous gifts could be under the tree.
The holiday season always overwhelms the senses, thereby etching memories from this special time of year forever in our hearts.
For me, I remember the homemade bits and bites, After Eight chocolates, the jangle of jingle bells in every song, and the moving hymns sung in church. I reminisce on the evenings we drove through town — “Let's go for a drive and look at the lights!” — and cherish the memory of one night when we went for a walk through the freshly fallen snow to visit my godparents. The streets were so silent, peaceful, and aglow from the Christmas decorations on neighbouring homes.
I recall the smoothly wrapped Christmas presents (which may or may not have been shaken in feeble attempts to figure out what was inside), and the strong and comforting arms of my mother and father as they held my brother and I while reading The Night Before Christmas on Christmas Eve.
For me, Christmas was about time spent with loved ones — the smiles of joy and contentment on the faces of family and friends — the many hearty handshakes, extra-long hugs, and choruses of laughter that would instantly fill a room with love.
This year, Christmas will look different. This year, I will not be home for the holidays. This year, I will be homesick for the holidays. And I am not alone.
We all have been faced with making a choice this holiday season: choosing what we want and choosing what is right. I have come to learn that the right thing to do is almost always the hard thing to do. After much deliberation, hoping against hope, and many emotional conversations, my fiancé Kevin Allan and I have decided to stay put in Victoria, B.C. for Christmas, and though this was a decision we essentially made in October, the reality of it is hitting home in December.
I am from Nova Scotia and Kevin is from Quebec. This year was supposed to be Christmas in Nova Scotia, as we take turns celebrating the season with each other's family.
For many people, holiday celebrations will look, feel and overall be quite different this year. It could be easy to become woe-begotten, entrenched in depression and loneliness. Many cannot celebrate the holiday with their family, friends and loved ones. So what can we do at a time when it seems that sadness and despair could prevail?
Give. Give. Give.
Give of your time and/or money. We can make it a point to donate goods and money to those community programs that help others in need. We can buy a few extra groceries and donate them to the local food bank. Whenever we are paying for purchases and the cashier asks, “Would you like to donate to XYZ charity today?”, we can say “Yes!” Those $5 are better spent providing for others than they would be for that afternoon latte.
Give of your patience. Remember that everyone is trying to do their best right now. Not everyone has been equipped with the skill set of dealing with these extraordinary circumstances, and everyday normal tasks can be completely overwhelming. Have patience with others who are impatient — they are clearly struggling and are in need of kindness and understanding.
Give of your kindness. It is easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the holiday season; we all have work, commitments, and endless to-do lists. Slow down, be kind and smile (even if it is underneath the mask). Share a kind word or gesture with a stranger. At the end of the day, we all remember that kind soul who helped to make our day a little easier and a little brighter.
This year, I will be homesick for the holidays. I will dearly miss my family and friends and will have emotional moments wishing I were home.
However, I know in my heart I am doing the right thing. I also know that we will have next year. And next year, there will be many tearful greetings, extra, extralong hugs, and a joyous celebration like we have never had before. The laughter will be a little louder, the stories a little more boisterous, the food a little more plentiful, and the joy a little more resounding.
To those at home, I miss you, and I love you. I wish you a very Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year. Stay safe and God bless you all.
Beth Campbell is from Westville, N.S.
She currently lives in Victoria, B.C.