Beyond the Fairytale: Finding Connection at Christmas

You don’t have to watch a Christmas movie marathon to know the emphasis that’s placed on togetherness and cheer at Xmas. However, for a season that’s all about connection, it’s also the time of year a lot of us can feel the most isolated. Come Christmas time, we are flooded with picture perfect narratives of loveable families, cute romances and homely towns. It’s this storybook standard that can cause us to feel other when looking to our own lives, opening the flood gates of/on a spectrum of emotions that don’t fit with Xmas expectations of infallible high spirits and happiness. This is deemed being a Grinch, but Grinches don’t fit into boxes - and neither do humans.

It's important to remember that however you're feeling this Xmas, it's valid. Whether you're surrounded by loved ones or spending the holiday alone, your emotions are real and significant. If you find yourself feeling lonely, reach out to friends, family, or community groups. There is solidarity in shared experiences, and sometimes, simply knowing you're not alone can make a world of difference. Let's embrace the full spectrum of human emotions this season and support each other in finding genuine connection.