Don't Feel the Christmas Spirit.

a few times this happened to me (usually because we were broke and i was beyond stressed out over finances or marriage stuff or whatever) and usually by the time the Big Day came i managed to scrounge up a bit of spirit and enjoy it. hang in there. you'll get there.

Ah, the old Hallmark effect that claims "we must be happy this time of year." Bah, Hallmark!

The holidays are difficult for a lot of people. THe fact that you are donating, volunteering, decorating, etc. speaks volumes that you actually ARE in the holiday spirit!

You might feel so obligated that you are robbing yourself of what you actually feel.

Time to smell the roses, well, at least the Frasier Fir.

I agree that you need to pencil in some fun. Even if it's non-holiday related. A movie? A road trip?

Personally, I absolutely love riding around our neighborhood looking at the lights and decorations. They are instant anti-depressants. And my two-year-olds reaction to them, can keep me smiling for days.

So take a load off and feel what you feel. The magic just might spark on the calendar day, and if not, you are only human!

I know the feeling R.. I've lost both my parets and the holidays really suck for me. My mom was huge on Thanksgiving and my dad was huge on Christmas. I always have to find the strength to get into the holiday spirit for my kids. For whatever reason, the holidays now surprise me, as if I forgot they were coming, and then I get overwhelmed, and finally get into the spirit when the tree is up and the kids are all together in one spot. Weird right?

Sounds like you may just need to get silly! Sit down and try to remember what you cherished most about Christmas as a child. Think about traditions, people who meant most to you, funny silly times, things that really impacted you, etc. Maybe find ways to incorporate some of these elements now, either the same ways or adapt them to fit your family and the times now. Pull a few harmless practical jokes on your family. Do something completely new and different to you, such as taking an excercise class at the gym you've never tried, or go for a brisk run/walk in the park and try to go for a distance you've never done before whether its one mile or 5. Sometimes getting out of your element and doing something unexpected and out of your norm can make you feel more alive than you've ever felt in a long time! Christmast is truly about the love God had for the world that he sent his son to us; if you're not feeling the Christmas spirit so much, reflect on the love you have around you and count your blessings. Start small and you just may realize the spirit is in you more than you think, it just needs to be brought out. Good luck and blessings to you!

Sing Christmas songs. I've been working on Handel's Messiah for a couple of months now and will perform it next weekend. I'm so excited! (Although the idea of standing for 3 hours is not so exciting...) If that doesn't get me ready for Christmas, nothing will!

I also have my Christmas tree lights on even during the day. Maybe that would help.

Turn on the CD player and sing away. I can't imagine that this wouldn't help you get in the Christmas mood!

Dawn

I go to a Candlelight Carol Service at church.

We lost our Dad in February, and just buried our mother yesterday. Dad was big on Thanksgiving, Mom on Christmas. This year is hard. We made Thanksgiving dinner to honor Dad, for Christmas dinner we plan not to do the turkey and ham, but instead enchiladas and the foods we grew up with, to honor them both.

I started making Christmas gifts early, then put them aside to care for Mom, and am making myself get back to them. I need to bake cookies and mail gifts, and my heart is hurting like crazy. What is motivating me to do anything is my grandson that I'm raising who's 3.5, and knowing our parents wouldn't want me to mope. (Mom told us as much the day before she passed, not to cry too much.) Plus one of my brothers (I have 8) said he's not in the Christmas spirit, and I thought, "You're not in the mood to celebrate the birth of Christ?" It hit me, that goes for me, too.

Find YOUR motivator, even if you just go through the motions at first, like you have been. Maybe the joy won't come, hopefully it will. For your children, to make someone else's season brighter, for whatever reason, find your happy thought(s) and dwell there.

MERRY CHRISTMAS <3

Sometimes that happens.
Don't be too hard on yourself.
It may come and it may not. And that's okay.
You're doing wonderful things for others & with your kids.
That's all the matters.
Just be thankful for your health & that of your children.
Sometimes the weather influences us (like if it's too warm).
Or something going on in our lives dampens our spirits.
Maybe we're tired.
Maybe we've been doing this so long, we just forget
Sometimes family issues make things not so happy.
Whatever the reason, it's okay to feel like this.
The feelings may come back.
And if they don't, that's okay too.
Do only what you want to, realize some holidays are created by big business & Hallmark and some years we just can't muster up the energy.
It's all okay. So big hugs to you and here's to a great year!

I understand the feeling. I am grieving, I am overwhelmed with work and family matters, I am remembering my brother who passed this time of the year. What's helping me is to do things differently than last year. Decorating in new ways, different activities than past years.
Try to change routines and traditions but replace them with others. Next year you can pick old traditions or new ....

I like to bundle the family up in the car with go cups of hot chocolate and drive around listening to christmas music and looking at people's christmas light displays. That really gets me in the christmas mood. We have a free thing you can drive through around here called Christmas in the Park, with huge Christmas displays. It is awesome and always puts me in a good mood.

For years I always felt like *something* was missing. Christmas would come and go and I would think "That was great, but there's a piece missing....."
I realized the problem last year (yes, it REALLY took me that long). The only Christmas album I owned (on record!) as a child - lived it, sang to it, loved it - each holiday season was something I didn't own.
John Denver and the Muppets. It arrives this week. I can't wait to introduce my kids to it :D

fake it till you make it It will happen, its too soon yet. I just put my lights up today.

OR R., maybe it's not you.. maybe the fact that Christmas is rushed upon us even before Halloween makes it hard to SUSTAIN that kind of cheer.. used to be, when we began to celebrate it , it was at least the beginning of December... so give yourself a break..

Personally, I start out SUPER happy in October with the arrival of Halloween, carry that through to almost Thanksgiving and then I began to tire out.. It then takes me a couple of weeks into December to pick back up my steam :) but I do...

However, I will say.. I get a little down along the way if I start thinking about how my biological although many still living are not in touch with one another. It does pain me :( Yet........ I try and not get too down about it and remember all the good things in my life..

here's what works for me as well.. get out a piece of paper and write down all the things you feel grateful for and or makes you happy... it's hard at first because you may not be in the mood (even if you are still thankful) however, do it anyway.. the act in and of itself will help to change your vibe... sounds crazy, but it can work...

in the meanwhile, good luck!!! you sound like a wonderfully caring person.... and although you may not feel in the mood, imagine how good you are making others feel.... that is the mark of someone special!!!

I think its great that you are providing service to those in need and getting your own Christmas items taken care of but I see one thing missing. Where is your service to you? Take some time for yourself to do what YOU want to do. It is not selfish to take some down time for you.
Another suggestion is to read the Christmas story in Luke and remind yourself what the reason for the season really is.