Time to think of others

For many, Christmas and the festive season conjure up images of spending time with loved ones, sharing far too much food, unwrapping gifts and lots of laughter.

However, for others, the Christmas period can be an exceptionally lonely and sad time.

Whether through the loss of a loved one, ill health, financial pressure, or estrangement or isolation from loved ones, yuletide is not always ‘merry and bright’.

Shockingly, an ABC news report from December last year stated that Lifeline received a call every 32 seconds during the Christmas period. Every…32…seconds – let’s think about that for a moment.

Unfortunately, problems seem even worse at Christmas and there is a lot of emphasis placed on how it should be a time for celebrating with loved ones.

Surprisingly, Cosmopolitan magazine reported last Christmas that ‘millennials’ were twice as likely as the elderly to be lonely during the festive season, after a poll of 2000 people showed one in 10 respondents aged 25 to 34 had no one to spend Christmas with, compared with one in 20 aged over 65.

Simply asking what someone is doing for Christmas and for others sharing information about a lack of plans will most likely lead to an invitation. Most people only want to help.

Opening up

But people can’t help if they don’t know how you’re feeling.

You should never feel embarrassed to ask for help or share how lonely you’re feeling.

For those planning a big festive feast, why not extend an invitation to your neighbour, friend, or estranged family member?

Everyone has something to offer and you could make a valuable lifelong friend or discover a shared interest in the process.

Or, why not head along to a community Christmas lunch event?

For example, Horsham Uniting Church is presenting an open-to-all Christmas lunch at noon on Christmas Day. It is somewhere you can enjoy a delicious meal with new friends, or even volunteer your time to help prepare and serve the meals. Bookings for the Horsham lunch are essential and transport can also be arranged. To book or to register as a volunteer people can call the church on 5382 4380.

Of course, if you are spending the holiday period alone, there are ways you can stave off loneliness, including:

• Practice self-care: Read that book or watch that movie you’ve been longing to see, indulge in a luxurious bubble bath, or take a walk or drive somewhere you’ve never been before. Just do something to look after you.

• Stay active: Even a short walk around the block in the sun can be a perfect mood booster – but don’t forget a hat and sunscreen. Or, why not take a drive or bus trip to a place you’ve never been before?

• Give back: Volunteer with a charity and give something back to your community. Not only will it get you out of the house meeting new people, but studies have shown volunteering to be a perfect mood booster. And, who knows? You might learn a new skill or make some new friends along the way.

Most importantly, remember that Christmas is only one day.

If you are feeling sad or lonely this festive season, call Lifeline on 13 11 14. Merry Christmas • The Centre for Participation will be closed from 1pm on December 22 and will re-open at 9am on January 8. Changing lives, strengthening communities.